.M'CLINTOCL. 

Life  S  Letters. 


r  PRINCETOlSr,   N.  J. 


BX  8495   .M16  C7 
Crooks,  George  Richard,  18^. 

-1B97.  ^  ^ 

Life  and  letters  of  the  Rev 
John  M'Clintock 


Life  and  Letters 


OK  TIIK 

REV.  JOHN  M'CLINTOCK,  D.D.,  LI.l)., 

LATE  PRESIDENT  OF  DREW  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY. 


GEORGE  R.  CROOKS,  D.D. 


NEW  YORK : 
NELSON     &  PHILLIPS. 

CINCINNATI  : 
HITCHCOCK    &  WALDEN. 
1876. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1876,  by 

NELSON  &  PHILLIPS, 

in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


THE   MANY   FRIENDS   OF   DR.  M'CLINTOCK 


WHO 


LOVED  HIM  WHILE  LIVING,  AND  WHO  CHERISH  HIS  MEMORY, 


THIS  BOOK 


75   RESPECTFULLY  INSCRIBED. 


PHinOSTOII 


A  A  X.A  -J  >ji  u  'c£  A  O  -ix  I* 


PREFACE. 


IN  the  narrative  here  presented  the  author 
may  have  been  partial,  but  has  certainly 
been  sincere.  Care  has  been  taken,  however, 
to  let  Dr.  M'Clintock  himself  tell  the  story  of 
his  life,  and  to  this  end  his  diaries  and  corre- 
spondence have  been  freely  used.  His  charm- 
ing letters  need  nothing  more  to  set  them  off 
than  to  be  placed  in  proper  connexion  with  the 
events  of  which  they  are  the  best  interpreta- 
tion. His  diaries  are  the  fullest  record  remaining 
of  his  studies,  and  show  with  what  eagerness 
Dr.  M'Clintock  devoted  himself  to  the  accumula- 
tion of  knowledge.  These  sources  of  information 
I  have  supplemented  from  my  own  recollections, 
drawn  from  an  intimacy  which  extended  over 
many  years,  as  well  as  from  the  recollections  of 
other  friends. 


6  PREFACE. 

I  return  my  thanks  to  the  correspondents  of 
Dr.  M'Clintock  who  have  placed  their  letters  in 
my  hands.  I  am  also  under  special  obligations  to 
his  son,  Mr.  Emory  M'Clintock,  whose  admirable 
arrangement  of  his  father's  papers  has  greatly 
aided  me  in  the  preparation  of  this  volume. 

For  the  young  men  of  the  Church,  whether  of 
the  ministry  or  the  laity,  the  life  which  I  have  en- 
deavored to  portray  has  many  and  valuable  les- 
sons. The  example  of  a  simple.  Christian  faith, 
firmly  held  by  one  who  explored  nearly  every  field 
of  human  knowledge,  will,  it  is  hoped,  not  be  with- 
out its  effect.  With  all  his  growing,  Dr.  M'Clin- 
tock never  outgrew  the  creed  which  he  inherited 
from  his  fathers.  His  highest  aspiration  was  to 
be  a  Bible  Christian.  For  him  the  announcement 
that  "  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the  world  to  save 
sinners"  had  a  meaning  which  neither  philoso- 
phy nor  improved  theology  could  for  a  moment 
obscure. 


CONTENTS. 


 ■  • 

CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY  LIFE,  EDUCATION,  AND  CALL  TO  THE  MINISTRY. 

Parentage  and  Birth — Home  Life — The  Old  St.  George's  Church — Dr. 
Holdich's  Recollections — Placed  in  the  University  Grammar  School — A 
Favorite  Pupil  —  Becomes  Book-keeper  in  the  Methodist  Book  Concern, 
New  York  —  Balancing  the  Books  —  Conversion — Joins  the  Allen-street 
Church— Anxiety  for  a  thorough  Education — Enters  the  Wesleyan  Univer- 
sity, Middletown — Sickness — Enters  the  University  of  Pennsylvania — 
Rapid  Progress  — Called  into  the  Ministry  vi'hile  yet  a  Student — Preaches 
at  Flemington,  Elizabethtown,  and  Jersey  City  —  Enters  the  Philadelphia 
Conference — Gi-aduates  A.B.  with  Distinction — Letters  Page  13 

CHAPTER  n. 

PASTORATE  IN  JERSEY  CITY — ELECTED  PROFESSOR  IN  DICKINSON  COLLEGE. 

Life  as  Pastor  in  Jersey  City — Letters  to  his  Mother — Compelled  by  111 
Health  to  Quit  the  Pulpit — Appointed  Assistant  and  then  full  Professor  of 
Mathematics  in  Dickinson  College — History  of  the  College — The  Members 
of  the  First  Faculty — Intimacy  with  Robert  Emory — Dr.  Durbin's  Fame  as 
an  Orator — Daily  Life  of  Professor  M'Clintock  in  his  New  Position — Great 
Variety  of  his  Studies — Educational  Leaders  of  American  Methodism — 
Second  Failure  of  Professor  M'Clintock's  Health — Passages  from  his  Diary 
— His  Extensive  Reading  while  an  Invalid — Anxiety  to  be  Able  to  Preach 
Again — His  Method  as  a  Stiident — Letters  6i 

CHAPTER  III. 

LIFE    IN  CARLISLE. 

An  Ideal  Life — Carlisle  and  the  Cumberland' Valley — Rapid  Progress  in 
Study — Social  Habits — Improvement  of  Health — Centenary  of  Methodism, 
October,  1839 — Reading  on  Christian  Perfection  and  the  Human  Will — 
Grief  at  Parting  with  Robert  Emory — Transfer  from  the  Chair  of  Mathe- 


8 


CONTENTS. 


maticsto  that  of  the  Ancient  Classic  Languages — Ordained  Elder  by  Bishop 
Hedding — Illness  and  Death  of  his  Mother — Recovery  of  his  Voice  and 
Return  to  the  Pulpit — Characteristics  and  Power  as  a  Preacher — Estimates 
of  Carlisle  and  Goethe — Stability  in  his  Opinions  and  Steadfast  Adherence 
to  Evangelical  Doctrine — Profound  Interest  in  the  Slaveiy  Controversy — 
Active  Opposition  to  the  Annexation  of  Texas — Letters  in  the  "  Christian 
Advocate  "  on  the  Duty  of  the  Church — Publication  of  Greek  and  Latin 
Text-Books,  and  Neander's  "Life  of  Christ" — Letters  Page  loi 

CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  TRIAL  ON  THE  CHARGE  OF  INSTIGATING  A  RIOT. 

The  Cumberland  Valley  a  Highway  of  Migration — The  Negroes  of  Car- 
lisle— The  Pursuit  by  Messrs.  Kennedy  and  Hollingsworth  of  Three  Slaves 
— Symptoms  of  Riot  at  the  Office  of  a  Justice  of  the  Peace — Collision  of 
Negroes  with  the  Sheriff's  Officers — All  Partife-^.rought  before  Judge  Hep- 
burn on  a  Writ  of  Habeas  Corpus — The  Judge's  decision- — Attempt  Made 
in  the  Court-room  to  Rescue  the  Slaves — The  Blacks  Baflft^d  and  Overawed 
— The  Attitude  of  Pennsylvania  in  Relation  to  Slavery — The  Prigg  Case 
before  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States — The  Pgjinsylvima'Law 
of  1847 — Arrival  of  Professor  M'Clintock  at  the  Court^nouse — Co-operates 
in  Procuring  a  Second  Writ  of  Habeas  Corpus — Interposition  ysx  Behalf  of  a 
Negro — Attempt  to  Carry  the  Slaves  Away— Resistance  by  the  Negroes  of 
the  Town — A  Melee  in  which  Mr.  Kennedy  is  Stmck  Down — Great  Ex- 
citement in  the  Country — Professor  M'Clintock  Charged  with  Instigating  a 
Riot  and  Arrested — Trial  of  Professor  M'Clintock  and  Twenty-eight  Ne- 
groes— The  Testimony  for  the  Prosecution — Scenes  in  the  Court — Defense 
and  Acquittal — Protest  of  the  Judge — Conviction  of  Thirteen  Negroes  and 
Sentence  of  Ten  to  the  Penitentiar}' — Their  Release  by  the  Supreme  Court 
— Letters  143 

CHAPTER  V. 

RESIGNATION  OF  COLLEGE  PROFESSORSHIP. 

Calm  after  the  Storm — Increase  in  the  Number  of  College  Students — 
Generosity  of  Dr.  M'Clintock's  Friends — Illness  of  President  Emory,  and 
his  Departure  for  the  West  Indies — Illness  of  Professor  Caldwell — Corre- 
spondence of  Dr.  M'Clintock  with  his  two  Sick  Associates — Letter  from 
one  Dying  Man  to  Another — Death  of  President  Emory  and  of  Professor 
Caldwell — Professor  M'Clintock's  Resignation  of  his  Professorship — His 
Growth  during  the  Twelve  Years — His  Life  in  Carlisle  considered  as  a 
Preparation  for  his  Subsequent  Career  183 


CONTENTS. 


9 


CHAPTER  VI. 

EDITOR  OF  "  METHODIST  QUARTERLY  REVIEW  " — REMOVAL  TO  NEW  YORK. 

Elected  Editor  of  the  "  Methodist  Quarterly  Review  " — Removes  to  Jer- 
sey City — Despondent  about  his  Health — Discusses  with  Dr.  Olin  the 
Policy  of  the  "  Review" — Regrets  the  loss  of  the  Society  of  old  Friends — 
Enlists  the  Co-operation  of  able  Contributors — Discussion  and  Analysis  of 
Comte's  System  of  Positivism — Effort  to  make  the  "  Quarterly  "  both  Schol- 
arly and  Practical — Demands  Independence  in  the  Treatment  of  Methodist 
Questions — Death  of  his  Wife — Trip  to  Europe  in  the  Summer  of  1850 — 
Enjoyment  of  the  Sea — Attention  from  German  University  Professors — 
Inclination  to  Settle  in  Europe  for  several  Years — Return  Home  in  greatly 
Improved  Health — Death  of  Dr.  Olin — Second  Marriage  of  Dr.  M'Clin- 
tock — Elected  President  of  Wesleyan  University,  but  Declines  the  Position 
— Preaching  —  Work  upon  Church  Catechisms — Weariness  of  Editorial 
Drudgery — Letters  Page  197 

CHAPTER  YII. 

LIFE  AS  EDITOR — SECOND  RESIDENCE  IN  CARLISLE. 

Strong  Desire  of  Dr.  M'Clintock  for  Quiet  and  Rest — Removal  to  New 
Brunswick,  and  thence  to  Carlisle — Great  Enjoyment  of  his  Rural  Home — 
His  Manner  of  Life — Estimate  of  Congregationalism — Trip  to  Europe  in 
the  Summer  of  1854 — Letters  to  his  Children — Complaints  of  the  Abstruse- 
ness  of  the  "Quarterly  Review" — His  Replies — Reply  to  Joseph  R. 
Chandler  on  the  Temporal  Power  of  the  Pope — Offered  the  Presidency  of 
Troy  University — The  Methodist  Deputation  from  Ireland — General  Con- 
ference of  1856 — Excitement  in  the  Country  in  Relation  to  Slavery — Effect 
upon  the  Church — Dr.  M'Clintock  and  the  Baltimore  Conference — His  In- 
tended New  "Chapter"  on  Slavery  —  Close  of  his  Connection  with  the 
"Quarterly  Review" — Letters  240 

CHAPTER  VTII. 

PASTOR  OF  ST.  PAUL's  CHURCH,  NEW  YORK. 

Dr.  M'Clintock  as  an  Orator— Appointed  to  the  Pastorate  of  St.  Paul's 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  New  York — Great  Success  in  this  Position — • 
Visits  England  in  1857,  with  Bishop  Simpson,  as  Delegate  to  the  Wesleyan 
Conference  and  to  the  Evangelical  Alliance  —  Public  Reception  at  the 
Wesleyan  Mission-House — Reception  at  Belfast — Kindness  of  his  Irish 
Friends — Reception  of  the  Members  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance  by  the 


10 


CONTENTS. 


King  of  Prussia — The  King's  Attendance  upon  the  Sessions  of  the  Alliance 
— Entertainment  of  Americans  in  Berlin  by  Governor  Wright— Work  upon 
the  Cyclopaedia  by  Dr.  M'Clintock — His  many  Plans  for  Literary  Work — 
Efifect  of  Ill-health  in  Hindering  their  Execution — Letters  Page  263 

CHAPTER  IX. 

LIFE  IN  PARIS  PASTORATE  OF  THE  AMERICAN  CHAPEL. 

Appointed  Pastor  of  the  American  Chapel,  Paris — Cordial  Reception  by 
the  Congregation — Engages  to  Correspond  with  the  "Methodist" — Break- 
ing out  of  the  Civil  War  in  the  United  States — Patriotic  Activity  of  Dr 
M'Clintock — Speech  in  Exeter  Hall  at  the  Wesleyan  Missionary  Anniver- 
sary— Great  Effect  of  the  Speech — Meeting  of  Americans  at  the  Hotel  du 
Louvre,  Paris — Subscription  for  a  Battery  of  Rifled  Cannon — Dr.  M'Clintock 
Translates  and  Circulates,  in  England,  De  Gasparin's  "  Uprising  of  a  Great 
People" — Speech  at  Meeting  of  Americans  in  London,  July  4,  1861 — The 
"  Trent "  Imbroglio — Active  Efforts  of  Dr.  M'Clintock  to  Remove  English 
Misunderstandings — Correspondence  with  the  Rev.  Wm.  Arthur  in  Rela- 
tion to  Mason  and  Slidell — His  Devotion  to  his  Work  as  Pastor  of  the 
Chapel — Fruit  of  his  Preaching — Readiness  to  Serve  Destitute  and  Suffer- 
ing Americans — Lending  a  Hand — Letters   280 

CHAPTER  X. 

LIFE  IN  PARIS — PATRIOTIC  ACTIVITY. 

Dr.  M'Clintock's  Habitual  Interest  in  Political  Affairs — The  Scholar  in 
Politics — Effect  of  his  Activity  upon  his  Countrymen  in  Europe — Pros- 
perity of  the  Chapel — Respect  of  Europe  for  "  Monitors" — Tribute  to  the 
Memory  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bangs — The  United  States  is  a  Great  Nation — 
European  Opinion  of  General  M'Clellan — A  Detachment  of  Lee's  Army 
Enters  Carlisle — Anticipation  Eight  Years  Before  of  such  an  Event  by 
Dr.  M'Clintock — Notice  to  American  and  Foreign  Christian  Union  of  his 
Purpose  to  Return  Home — Review  of  his  Pastorate  in  Paris — The  Rev. 
Andrew  Longacre's  Sketch  of  Dr.  M'Clintock's  Personal  Life — Making 
Sunshine  for  All — Charity  for  Men,  and  Faith  in  God — Letters  327 

CHAPTER  XL 

LAST  YEARS  OF  LIFE. 

The  Afternoon  of  Life  —  Signs  of  Bodily  Decay  —  Formation  of  the 
European  Branch  of  the  Sanitary  Commission — Invitation  to  Return  to 
St.  Paul's  Church,  New  York — Trip  to  Rome — Taking  Leave  of  Paris — 
Reception  by  Friends  in  New  York — Offered  a  Public  Dinner  by  Leading 


CONTEXTS. 


Citizens  —  Failure  of  Health — Retirement  to  the  "Brown"  Farm,  near 
Philadelphia — Chainnan  of  Central  Centenaiy  Committee — Great  Success 
of  Centenary  Work — Mr.  Drew's  Offer  to  Found  a  Theological  School — 
Opening  of  Drew  Seminary,  under  the  Presidency  of  Dr.  M'Clintock — Re- 
moval of  Dr.  M'Clintock,  first  to  New  Bmnswick,  and  then  to  Madison, 
New  Jersey — Interview  with  President  Johnson,  at  Washington — No  Rest 
for  Us  in  this  World — General  Conference  of  1868  and  Lay  Delegation — 
Work  on  the  Cyclopaedia — Trip  to  England  in  the  Summer  of  1869 — Con- 
tinued Decline  of  Health — Letter  to  Fletcher  Harper — Attack  of  Fever, 
March,  1870 — Last  Words,  and  the  End  Page  355 

CHAPTER  XH. 

TRIBUTES  TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  DR.  M'CLINTOCK  BY  HIS  FRIENDS. 

Tributes  to  the  Memory  of  Dr.  M'Clintock— From  Dr  W.  H.  Allen- 
Bishop  Janes  on  the  Elements  of  his  Power — His  Early  Life,  by  Mr.  T.  A. 
Howe — Mr.  C.  C.  North  on  his  Industry  and  Organizing  Talent — The  Rev. 
William  Arthur's  Recollections — The  Young  Professor,  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Deems — The  Hon.  John  Bigelow  on  Dr.  M'Clintock's  Life  in  Paris — His 
Social  Qualities,  by  Mrs.  Mary  S.  Robinson  —  His  Helpfulness  to  Young 
Americans  in  Europe,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hurst — His  Leading  Mental  and 
Moral  Traits,  by  the  Author  of  this  Memoir   384 


LIFE  OF  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Parentage  and  Birth— Home  Life— The  Old  St.  George's  Church— Dr.  Holdich's  Eecol- 
lections— Placed  in  the  University  Grammar  Scliool— A  Favorite  Pupil— Becomes  Book- 
keeper in  tho  Methodist  Book  Concern,  New  York— Balancing  the  Books— Conversion- 
Joins  the  Allen-street  Church— Anxiety  for  a  thorough  Education— Enters  the  Wcsleyan 
University,  Middletown— Sickness— Enters  the  University  of  Pennsylvania— Kapid  Prog- 
ress—Called into  the  Ministry  while  yet  a  Student— Preaches  at  Flemington,  Elizabethtown, 
and  Jersey  City— Enters  the  Philadelphia  Conference— Graduates  A.  B.  with  Distmction. 


OHN  M'CLINTOCK,  Junior,  the  second  son  of 


of  Philadelphia,  October  27,  18 14.  The  father,  John 
M'Clintock,  Sen.,  came  from  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  to 
America  in  the  year  1806,  and  in  the  year  1807  married 
Martha  M'Mackin,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Tyrone. 
For  many  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  St.  George's 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Philadelphia,  in  which  he 
held  the  offices  of  class  leader  and  trustee.  Mr.  M'Clin- 
tock was  a  man  of  unusual  intelligence,  alert  in  move- 
ment, irrepressible  in  temper,  persistent,  tenacious,  and 
altogether  a  man  of  mark  in  the  religious  community 
in  whose  fellowship  he  lived.  His  wife,  the  mother  of 
the  subject  of  this  memoir,  was  a  woman  of  very  clear 
intellect,  placid  spirit,  and  deep,  though  unobtrusive, 


Martha  M'Clintock,  was  born  in  the  city 


14  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

piety.  Five  sons  and  three  daughters  were  born  to 
John  and  Martha  M'CHntock,  all  of  whom  lived  to 
mature  age. 

The  family  in  Ireland  was  originally  Presbyterian.  The 
earliest  member  of  whom  the  home  record  makes  men- 
tion, WiUiam  M'Clintock,  (born  in  1717,)  is  described  as  a 
farmer,  in  County  Tyrone,  "  a  very  quiet,  pious  man." 
His  son  James  (born  in  1740)  was  both  a  farmer  and  a 
county  physician  of  some  repute.  He  is  the  first  Meth- 
odist who  appears  in  the  family,  and  was  a  class  leader 
in  the  period  of  the  beginnings  of  Methodism.  From 
James  descended  John,  the  father  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
M'Clintock.  Thus  through  his  father,  grandfather,  and 
great  grandfather.  Dr.  M'Clintock  inherited  the  blessings 
of  religious  thought  and  habit.  His  ancestors  were,  no 
doubt,  a  substantial,  godly  people ;  fit  representatives 
of  the  Protestant  Irish  stock,  which  has  contributed  so 
much  to  the  vigor  and  energy  of  the  English-speaking 
race  in  America. 

The  home  life  of  the  M'Clintocks  in  Philadelphia  was 
simple  and  unostentatious.  The  father  carried  on  a  re- 
tail dry-goods  trade  for  many  years  with  various  success. 
Store  and  home,  as  was  then  the  almost  universal  prac- 
tice, were  in  the  same  building.  Here  was  dispensed  a 
hearty  hospitality,  the  itinerant  preachers  being  among 
Mr.  M'Clintock's  most  frequent  guests.  The  faces  of 
Solomon  Sharp,  Ezekiel  Cooper,  Beverly  Waugh,  Dr. 
John  Emory,  and  others  of  the  itinerants  known  to  fame 
in  that  day,  were  familiar  to  the  younger  members  of 
the  family  from  childhood.    The  household  held  to  the 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


15 


Church  by  the  closest  tie ;  their  Church-Hfe  was  a  very 
large  part  of  their  entire  life. 

The  Methodist  society  to  which  the  father  and  mother 
belonged,  the  St.  George's,  was  the  oldest  in  Philadelphia. 
After  many  renovations  of  its  interior  the  homely  edifice 
still  stands,  with  its  gable  looking  upon  the  street,  and 
bearing  without  much  change  the  same  appearance  as 
fifty  years  ago.  Nearly  opposite,  on  Fourth-street,  is 
the  St.  Augustine's  Roman  Catholic  Church,  which,  like 
its  Methodist  neighbor,  has  always  been  strong  and 
populous,  and  has  had  an  eventful  history  of  its  own. 
One  cannot  but  feel  that  the  two  edifices,  standing 
over  against  each  other,  have  been  types  of  two  antago- 
nistic systems  of  faith,  brought  by  a  singular  coincidence 
face  to  face.  St.  George's  was  noted  for  the  enthusi- 
asm of  its  worshippers,  and  its  crowded  congregations. 
It  was  the  fruitful  mother  of  a  great  progeny  of  Churches 
scattered  throughout  the  city  and  county  of  Philadel- 
phia. The  leading  preachers  of  the  connexion  held  it  an 
honor  to  be  appointed  to  its  pulpit.  Its  roll  of  pastors 
includes  such  men  as  Henry  White,  Levi  Scott,  Joseph 
Iloldich,  George  G.  Cookman,  Charles  Pitman,  and 
others  of  later  fame.  It  was  naturally,  therefore,  for  long 
years,  a  centre  of  Methodist  influence  and  power. 

Into  the  life  of  this  fine  old  Church,  young  M'Clin- 
tock,  we  may  say,  was  born.  He  knew  its  hard,  un- 
cushioned  benches,  its  arched  ceiling,  its  over-jutting 
galleries,  its  crowded  aisles,  well.  In  the  year  1825,  be- 
ing eleven  years  of  age,  he  was  placed  by  Dr.  Holdich, 
then  pastor,  in  a  catechetical  class  of  the  children  of 


i6 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


the  congregation,  and  on  October  9,  of  that  year,  was 
received  as  a  probationer  in  the  Church.  Of  this  fact 
of  young  M'Clintock's  Hfe,  Dr.  Holdich  gives  us  the 
following  interesting  reminiscence  : — 

In  the  year  1825,  being  the  fourth  year  of  my  ministry,  I  was  sta- 
tioned at  St.  George's  Charge,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  The 
Charge  then  consisted  of  five  Churches.  My  colleagues  were  the 
Rev.  Charles  Pitman  and  William  Barnes.  During  this  year  it  was 
that  George  G.  Cookman  arrived  from  England,  and,  having  some 
previous  knowledge  of  each  other  through  common  friends,  he  natu- 
rally sought  me  out,  and  finally  took  lodgings  in  the  same  house  with 
me.  It  was  at  the  house  of  my  senior  colleague,  the  Rev.  Charles 
Pitman.  He  joined  St.  George's  Church  as  a  local  preacher,  and  at 
once  began  to  preach  with  great  acceptance  and  popularity. 

During  the  course  of  our  joint-pastorate  that  year,  (1825,)  we 
formed  the  children  belonging  to  St.  George's  Church  into  a  cate- 
chetical class,  and  met  them  once  a  week.  Besides  the  catechism, 
we  had  singing,  prayer,  and  exhortation.  I  do  not  know  which  of 
the  ministers  organized  the  class,  but  I  know  that  we  all,  including 
Mr.  Cookman,  took  part  in  it,  and  with  this  class  young  John  M'.Clin- 
tock  became  connected.  I  remember  the  hope  he  enkindled  in  us  as 
to  his  future,  and  the  gratification  he  afforded  us  by  his  punctuality, 
and  his  earnestness  and  zeal  to  enlist  others  in  the  same  cause.  He 
showed  a  good  deal  of  talent,  and  was  apt  both  in  remembering  and 
in  communicating  what  he  knew.  I  cannot  say  that  he  professed  to 
enjoy  experimental  piety,  but  we  had  great  hope  of  him,  believing 
that  he  would,  if  he  lived,  grow  up  to  be  a  useful  and  distinguished 
man.  But  he  was  only  a  boy,  and  liable  to  a  boy's  exposures  and 
temptations.  If  he  was  not  always  faithful  to  his  early  convictions, 
I  believe  he  never  entirely  lost  them ;  and  the  profession  of  religion 
which  he  subsequently  made  while  in  New  York  was,  I  believe,  only 
the  actualizing  and  carrying  into  practice  the  impressions  he  received 
while  attending  the  catechetical  class. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  \^ 

In  the  year  1822,  the  eighth  of  his  age,  he  was 
placed  in  the  Grammar  School  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  began  the  study  of  Latin  and  Greek. 
Dr.  S.  B.  Wylie,  a  famous  old  Grecian,  was  the  principal. 
The  school  was  formed  upon  the  English  model ;  the 
study  of  the  ancient  classic  languages  was  the  chief 
occupation  of  teachers  and  scholars  every  day.  For 
this  method  of  training  Dr.  Wylie  was  admirably  quali- 
fied. Profoundly  versed  in  both  languages,  especially 
the  Greek,  he  appreciated  the  value  of  patient  drill. 
He  was  among  the  earliest  of  American  classical  teach- 
ers to  adopt  the  more  philosophical  method  of  deriv- 
ing the  parts  of  the  Greek  verb  from  a  single  root 
form.  His  Greek  Grammar,  first  published  in  1838, 
is  a  fine  specimen  of  compact  workmanship.  I  have 
heard  Dr.  M'Clintock  say,  that  when  his  old  preceptor 
became  Professor  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  he 
would  hear  his  classes  in  Homer  without  any  use  of  text- 
book ;  his  memory  had  treasured  up  the  text  line  by 
line. 

Young  M'Clintock  soon  became  a  favorite  with  the 
good  Doctor.  He  must  have  been  an  apt  scholar,  for  I 
find  the  following  note  to  his  father  under  date  of  July 
24,  1826: — 

Mr.  M'Clintock:— 

Dear  Sir: — John  tells  me  you  design  to  send  him  to  the  country 

to-day  with  the  family.    I  am  truly  sorr)-  for  the  arrangement.  I 

beg,  if  at  all  consistent,  that  you  will  postpone  the  trip  till  next 

week.    Our  examination  will  be  on  Friday.    John  will  make  a  tirst- 

rate  figure.    Why  should  you  deprive  either  himself  or  us  of  the 
2 


i8 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


honor — more  pariicularly  as  the  class  at  such  a  time  (close  before 
holidays)  is  usually  thin  ?  I  will  take  it  as  a  particular  favor,  should 
you  not  take  John  away  till  after  that  event. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  B,  Wylie. 

Boy  as  he  was,  young  M'Clintock  did  not,  at  this 
early  age,  shrink  from  high  questions  of  metaphysics. 
The  Rev.  T.  J.  Wylie,  a  son  of  Dr.  Wylie,  tells  this 
incident : — 

During  the  time  he  was  at  school  he  was  noted  for  proficiency  in 
his  studies  and  excellent  behavior ;  though  I  have  heard  that  some- 
times the  great  questions  of 

"  Foreknowledg-c,  will,  and  fate, 
Fix'd  fate,  free-will,  foreknowledge  absolute." 

were  very  warmly  discussed,  during  school-hours,  between  him  and 
another  pupil,  (Mr.  Benjamin  B.  M'Kinley,  at  present  a  member  of 
the  Faculty  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Institute,)  a  staunch  Calvinist,  of 
the  old  true-blue,  Covenanter  kind,  and  now,  and  for  many  years,  a 
respected  member  of  the  United  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church  of 
this  city.  I  cannot  say  w^hat  effect  these  arguments  may  have  had  in 
developing  the  intellectual  power  of  our  dear  friend,  or  in  producing 
the  respect  which  he  has  so  eloquently  expressed  for  the  great  Gene- 
van Reformer ;  but  the  immediate  consequence  was  correction,  more 
or  less  severe,  from  the  teacher,  who  probably  supposed  that  his  young 
pupils  were  talking  about  tops  or  marbles,  but  had  no  idea  what- 
ever of  the  true  nature  of  the  subjects  which  formed  the  themes  of 
such  earnest  convei  sations. 

It  must  not  be  inferred  from  this  record  that  our  sub- 
ject had  no  genuine  boy-life.  He  was  a  boy  to  the  end 
of  his  days.    Fun  was  perpetually  bubbling  up  from  his 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  19 

inner  nature,  and  revealing  itself  in  pleasant  effervescence. 
Philadelphia  was  in  that  early  day  a  boy's  paradise. 
It  had  not  become  overgrown,  and  boys  had  not  yet 
been  put  in  strait-jackets  by  innumerable  police  regula- 
tions. The  Delaware  on  the  one  side  and  the  Schuylkill 
on  the  other  invited  to  swimming,  boatings  and  skating. 
The  broad  expanse  on  the  north-west,  then  known  as 
Bush  Hill,  made  ample  room  for  bands  of  ball-players. 
To  the  south  of  the  city  the  marshes  of  the  Neck," 
crowded  with  reed-birds  in  the  early  fall,  gave  the 
youthful  sportsman  many  an  hour's  exhilaration.  Ad- 
venturous spirits  could  find  their  way  to  the  Wissahickon, 
and  spend  the  long  sunny  days  on  the  slopes  of  its  hills. 
Few  cities  have  such  surroundings,  and,  being  yet  small, 
the  open  fields  were  near  at  hand  on  every  side.  We 
may  readily  imagine  that  the  school-boy's  Saturday  was 
improved  by  young  M'Clintock.  He  was  well  up  in  all 
boyish  sports,  and  always  spoke  of  them  with  zest  in 
his  later  life.  Though  his  intellect  was  alert  almost 
to  precocity,  there  was  nothing  in  its  vigor  akin  to 
disease. 

In  after  life  he  took  more  than  usual  care  to  preserve 
the  memorials  of  his  school  and  college  work.  I  have 
a  number  of  his  exercise  books  before  me,  the  earliest 
dated  1826,  when  he  was  still  a  mere  boy.  They  show 
the  thorough  manner  in  which  he  was  trained,  and  the 
closeness  of  his  application  to  study.  The  earlier  exer- 
cises were,  as  may  be  supposed  from  the  character  of  the 
school,  in  Latin  and  Greek.  All  is  written  out  with 
most  minute  attention  to  detail.    In  analysis,  transla- 


20 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


tion,  scanning,  every  point  of  etymology,  syntax,  prosody, 
mythology,  and  history  was  examined,  and  the  fact  or 
rule  stated.  This  was  the  method  of  Dr.  Wylie's  school, 
and  in  this  exact  discipline  the  foundation  of  Dr. 
M'Clintock's  culture  was  laid.  He  did  not  leap  to  ex- 
cellence, but  rose  to  it  by  honest  exertion.  Rapid  and 
brilliant  at  all  times,  he  did  not  disdain  what  most  young 
men  call  drudgery.  His  college  note  books  show  evi- 
dence of  activity  in  every  department  of  knowledge. 
In  the  neatest  of  hands  are  preserved  digests  of  lectures 
on  chemistry,  mathematics,  philosophy,  and  constitu- 
tional law;  sketches  of  problems  in  the  calculus;  draw- 
ings of  parts  of  the  steam-engine,  and  of  philosophical 
instruments,  with  descriptiofts ;  in  fact,  nothing  seems 
to  have  come  amiss  to  him.  As  a  school  boy  he  had 
drilled  into  him  the  habit  of  doing  every  thing  well,  and 
the  habit  clung  to  him  ever  after. 

In  the  year  1828,  being  fourteen  years  of  age,  he  was 
taken  from  school  and  placed  in  his  father's  dry-goods 
store.  Though  standing  and  serving  behind  the  counter, 
his  mind,  according  to  his  own  account,  was  with  his 
books.  Writing,  when  a  young  man,  a  little  narrative  of 
his  life  for  a  friend,  he  says  :  "  I  left  school  for  the  pur- 
pose of  obtaining  a  knowledge  of  mercantile  pursuits, 
into  which  I  entered  immediately,  and  in  which  I  have 
been  occupied  ever  since.  Many  a  scolding  have  I  suf- 
fered for  sales  made  below  cost,  while  my  mind  was  wan- 
dering to  the  scenes  I  had  so  deeply  studied  in  the 
Songs  of  Anacreon  or  the  ^ncid  of  Virgil." 

If  he  did  not  relish  this  life,  it  at  least  prepared  him 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


21 


for  another  which  was  more  congenial.  In  1830,  being 
sixteen  years  of  age,  he  obtained  the  position  of  book- 
keeper in  the  Methodist  Book  Concern,  New  York,  then 
under  the  supervision  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Emory  and 
the  Rev.  Beverly  Waugh.  This  now  extensive  publish- 
ing house  had  been  founded  in  1797  by  the  Rev.  John 
Dickens,  with  a  capital  of  $600,  furnished  by  himself, 
and  had  grown,  after  not  a  few  vicissitudes  of  fortune,  to 
a  solid  prosperity.  Its  business  was  at  this  period  rapid- 
ly increasing.  Dr.  Emory,  a  man  of  unusual  sagacity, 
had  essentially  changed  its  methods,  and  his  associate, 
Mr.  Waugh,  devoted  himself  with  scrupulous  care  to  its 
details.  They  were  both  attached  friends  of.  the  M'Clin- 
tock  family,  and  the  senior  agent.  Dr.  Emory,  was,  to  the 
end  of  his  life,  Dr.  M'Clintock's  trusted  counselor.  What 
the  young  clerk  owed  to  the  almost  paternal  interest 
of  his  employers  he  could  hardly  estimate,  but  always 
freely  acknowledged. 

The  salary  would  be  considered  a  pittance  in  these 
days.  It  was  six  dollars  per  week ;  ultimately  it  became 
nine  dollars ;  yet  out  of  it  the  thrifty  book-keeper  accu- 
mulated, as  we  shall  see,  a  little  fund,  which  he  appropri- 
ated to  his  education.  Mr.  Waugh  had  charge  of  the 
accounts,  and  M'Clintock  came  under  his  immediate 
superintendence.  I  am  told  by  old  friends  that  he  made 
his  first  appearance  in  the  counting-room  in  a  "  round- 
about," a  blue-eyed,  rosy-cheeked  lad,  full  of  spirit  and 
activity,  and  settled  down  at  once  to  his  work.  He 
boarded  with  the  Rev.  Samuel  Merwin,  whose  wife 
watched  over  him  with  motherly  care.     Some  of  his 


22 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


letters  written  during  this  period  are  preserved.  After 
having  been  in  New  York  a  month  he  writes : — 

New  York,  July  6,  1880. 

My  Dear  Parents  : — In  answer  to  your  inquiry  whether  I  shall 
have  to  go  to  Bennett,  [a  teacher  of  book-keeping,]  I  do  not  think 
it  will  be  necessary.  Mr.  Waugh  continues  sick,  and  during  his 
sickness  I  have  kept  the  books  almost  altogether.  I  have  very  little 
time  to  write  this  letter,  so  you  must  excuse  it.  I  went  yesterday 
morning  (5th  July)  to  hear  Mr.  Merwin,  (it  cost  me  a  shilling,)  and  in 
the  afternoon  walked  up  Broadway.  It  is  a  very  splendid  street,  in- 
deed. I  heard  Mr.  Luckey  preach  on  Sunday,  and  like  him  very 
well. 

The  meaning  of  ten  dollars  out  of  my  wages  is  as  follows :  I  get 
paid  monthly,  (as  I  choose  it,)  and  all  I  do  not  want  for  board  I  pass 
to  your  credit  and  let  you  know  it.  .  .  . 

Affectionately,  John  M'Clintock,  Jun. 

A  little  later  in  July  he  writes :  Having  had  a  good 
deal  of  business  to  do  down  town,  I  know  the  town 
pretty  well.  The  common  writing  to  be  done  here  is 
not  more  than  twice  as  much  as  our  own  at  home  ;  but 
about  three  times  a  month  I  have  half  as  much  to  do  as 
the  yearly  balancing  of  the  books  at  home."  He  does 
not  forget  his  boyish  enjoyments,  but  notes  that  he  has 
"  a  beautiful  place  to  swim,  on  the  East  River — no  dan- 
ger, no  cost,  and  can  see  the  bottom."  In  August  he 
writes  to  his  father :  I  have  got  pretty  well  used  to  my 
business,  and  go  on  without  instructions,"  and  signs  him- 
self with  evident  pride,  "  First  clerk  Methodist  Book 
Concern." 

In  the  early  winter  Mr.  Waugh  had  made  a  favorable 
report  of  his  success  in  the  performance  of  his  duties. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  23 

He  writes  in  relation  to  this  to  his  mother :  "  I  read  the 
letter  which  Mr.  Waugh  sent  to  you  last  week,  and  I 
think  it  was  very  satisfactory.  It  would  be  the  height 
of  meanness  for  me,  if  I  cannot  do  the  balancing,  to  re- 
fuse to  stay  at  six  dollars  per  week,  as  Mr.  Waugh  has 
been  so  kind  to  me.  He  does  not  treat  any  clerk  in  the 
store  as  he  does  me." 

This  balancing  of  the  books  for  the  first  time  proved  a 
sore  trouble  to  the  young  accountant.  He  was  but  six- 
teen years  of  age,  and  the  business  of  the  house  exceeded 
$250,000  yearly ;  and  though  bright,  alert,  and  familiar 
with  the  theory  of  book-keeping,  he  was  new  to  its 
practice.  Toward  the  close  of  the  year  he  says  of  one 
of  his  brothers:  "He  will  probably  have  more  skating 
than  I  will  if  I  stay  here,  which  depends  altogether  on 
my  balancing.  I  would  give  it  up,  were  it  not  for  the 
disgrace  inevitable  upon  such  a  step."  He  had  already 
begun  to  form  the  habit  of  thoroughness,  which  was 
characteristic  of  him  through  life ;  it  is  not,  therefore, 
surprising  to  find  him  writing  early  in  January  of  the 
new  year:  "Two  balancings  must  be  finished  by  15th  of 
April,  1 83 1.  I  have  begun  to  go  through  my  books 
again,  to  try  and  rectify  them ;  if  I  do  not  find  out  the 
error,  I  shall  not  go  through  them  again." 

In  March  he  mentioned  again  in  his  correspondence : 
"  My  balance  book  is  exactly  right  on  the  debtor  side, 
namely,  $253,826  06,  and  on  the  Cr.  side  $9  91  cents  too 
much.  I  shall  close  it,  I  think.  You  can  have  no  idea 
of  the  labor  and  patience  necessary  to  do  it.  If  I  had 
known  it,  I  should  never  have  undertaken  it ;  but  as  I 


24 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


have,  I  intend  to  go  through  with  it.  I  had  rather  make 
up  your  daily  accounts  six  times  than  do  it."  Years 
after,  when  he  had  grown  to  fame,  he  turned,  in  my 
presence,  to  the  bulky  folios  over  which  he  had  spent  so 
many  months,  and  referred,  with  a  not  unreasonable 
pride,  to  his  youthful  work.  His  neat,  even  handwriting 
was  conspicuous  on  every  page. 

But  though  fully  occupied  with  the  duties  of  his  clerk- 
ship, and  as  happy  as  a  bright,  growing  youth  could  be, 
his  heart  was  not  in  this  work.  To  earn  a  support  he 
had  reluctantly  laid  aside  his  books,  and  looked  forward 
to  the  time  when  he  could  return  to  them.  His  father, 
who  in  all  this  early  correspondence  displays  a  most 
affectionate  solicitude  for  his  son's  welfare,  writes  to  him 
near  the  close  of  the  year  1850: — 

Philadilphia,  Dec.  27, 1880. 

My  Dear  John  : — If  you  cannot  balance  for  want  of  knowledge, 
you  had  better  go  to  Bennett ;  this  (if  you  please)  you  may  nnention 
to  Mr.  Waugh.  The  following  keep  to  yourself.  There  are  three 
avocations,  one  of  which  I  think  you  ought  to  follow  for  a  living. 
I.  You  might  go  to  college,  finish  your  education,  and  trust  to  it  to 
furnish  you  the  means  of  support.  2.  Stay  where  you  are  until  it 
might  be  thought  proper  time  for  you  to  begin  a  bookstore ;  or, 
3.  Return  home  and  bend  all  your  energies  to  become  a  first-rate 
dry-goods  store-keeper.  If  your  mind  could  be  fully  placed  on  the 
last,  it  would  be  more  agreeable  to  your  mother  and  me  than  either 
of  the  others:  i.  Because  we  think  you  might  do  as  well  at  that  as 
any  thing  else  ;  and,  2.  Because  we  would  then  have  the  satisfaction 
of  your  being  at  home.  I  now  leave  it  to  yourself  to  determine,  so 
that  you  shall  neither  murmur  nor  complain  hereafter.  I  trust,  my 
dear  John,  in  whatever  decision  you  may  make,  you  will  always  re- 
flect, How  can  I  best  ser\-e  God  and  prepare  for  heaven  ?    This,  you 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  25 

know,  is  our  primary-  object  respecting  our  dear  children.  You  will 
please  answer  soon.  My  dear  John,  did  you  think  of  us  on  Christ- 
mas }   You  were  much  upon  our  minds  and  tongues. 

I  am,  etc.,  John  M'Clintock. 

To  this  the  son  wrote  the  following  reply : — • 

New  Yokk,  Dec.  2S.  1S30. 

My  Dear  Parents  : — I  received  your  letter  of  27th  inst.  to-day. 
In  answer  to  your  inquiries  respecting  the  balancing,  I  would  say, 
that  it  is  ?ioi  for  want  of  information  or  knowledge  that  I  have  not 
done  it ;  but  there  is  a  mistake  somewhere  which  I  cannot  discover. 
I  have  considered  the  three  propositions  in  your  letter ;  and,  Jirst, 
would  say  that  I  can  give  no  decided  answer  at  present,  till  Mr. 
Waugh  says  something  to  me  cn  the  subject ;  as,  if  he  is  pleased 
with  my  work,  and  will  increase  my  salary  as  I  should  desire,  I 
think  it  decidedly  preferable  that  I  should  remain  here :  but  7iot 
otherwise  !  As  soon  as  there  is  the  least  whisper,  on  any  hand,  that 
I  do  not  perfectly  suit,  so  soon  shall  I  leave  the  Concern.  On  the 
contrary,  should  Mr.  Waugh  or  Dr.  Emory  incline  to  part  with  me, 
or  be  displeased  with  me,  and  not  increase  my  salary  at  the  end  of 
'January,  when  the  next  balancing  will  take  place,  which  I  shall  try 
to  do,  I  unqualifiedly  accept  of  the  first  proposal,  namely,  to  go  to 
college  and  finish  my  education.  !My  reasons  for  this  course  I  shall 
give  you  in  full,  as  follows,  namely : — 

1.  I  think  it  would  be  a  sin,  to  say  no  worse  of  it,  to  waste  all  the 
education  that  I  have  had,  and  make  nothing  of  it. 

2.  If  I  incline  to  study  medicine,  I  shall  have  so  good  an  opfK)r- 
tunity  with  James,  and  at  so  little  expense. 

3.  I  have  enough  experience,  and  enough  knowledge  in  the  way  of 
business,  to  obtain  me  a  situation  as  clerk,  whenever  I  please,  should 
I  not  succeed  in  a  profession.  I  can  obtain  five  hundred  dollars  per 
annum — in  this  way. 

4.  My  natural  taste  and  inclination  have  always  been  for  learning, 
and  it  always  was  a  mortification  of  myself  and  my  feelings  to  at- 


26 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


tend  dr}'-goods  store.  I  believe  this  (dry  goods)  has  injured  -my 
health,  and  would  not  agree  with  me,  as  a  business  to  follow  for  a 
living.  I  am  sorry  that  it  appears  to  you  preferable  for  me  to  be  a 
dry-goods  man  ;  but  I  believe,  if  you  consider  all  the  circumstances  of 
the  case  as  above,  you  will  think  it  best  for  me  to  go  to  college.  In- 
deed, I  always  thought  it  your  desire  that  I  should  do  so.  Middle- 
town  will  be  a  very  good  opening.  If  I  go  in  the  course  of  a  few 
months,  I  shall  be  prepared  to  join  the  college,  which  opens  in  Octo- 
ber next,  with  credit  and  fair  prospects.  The  opportunities  for  instruc- 
tion at  Middletown  will  be  very  good  ;  very  far  superior  to  what  can 
be  in  Philadelphia,  and  at  about  half  the  price.  Mr.  Burch  will  be 
able  to  give  you  all  and  any  information  on  this  subject.  However, 
all  this  planning  is  mere  fudge  if  Mr.  Waugh  increases  my  salary, 
as  mentioned  before.  If  he  does,  I  have  no  doubt  I  shall  be  a  book- 
seller. All  turns  upon  this  hinge.  Now  for  something  about  my- 
self. I  have  always  tried,  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  during  my  life, 
to  conduct  myself  so  as  not  to  be  a  burden,  a  disgrace,  or  a  grief  to 
my  parents,  and  never  more  so  than  during  the  past  year. 

Though  I  cannot  dissemble,  or  picture  things  that  I  do  not  feel, 
and  have  a  smooth  tongue,  and  be  disobedient  at  heart ;  though  I 
say,  I  always  show  the  worst  side  of  my  character  outside,  (which 
probably  was  the  case  when  I  was  in  Philadelphia  last,)  I  always 
have,  and  always  will,  try  to  be  a  comfort  to  you  in  your  old  age.  I 
leave  all  the  above  with  yourselves,  knowing  that  you  will  do  for  me 
whatever  you  think  best.    Give  my  love  to  all,  etc. 

Your  dutiful  son,  John. 

Early  in  1831  the  event  occurred  which  determined 
his  subsequent  career.  He  had  always  been  a  pure, 
affectionate,  dutiful  youth,  and  had  acted  from  conscien- 
tious impulses ;  but  he  now  dedicated  himself  wholly  to 
the  Christian  life.  His  own  account  of  this  important 
act  is  contained  in  the  letters  which  he  immediately  after 
wrote  to  his  parents: — 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


27 


Kew  York,  Feb.  11, 1S31. 

My  Dear  Parents  : — I  cannot  wait,  I  must  tell  you  what  great 
things  the  Lord  has  done  for  me.  I  have  informed  you  that  there  is 
a  great  re  valval  going  on  here.  It  has  been  progressing  for  eleven 
days.  On  the  3d  inst.  I  resolved,  in  the  strength  of  the  Lord,  that  I 
would  seek  and  serve  him.  And,  glory  to  his  name !  in  his  infinite 
mercy,  I  believe  that  he  last  evening  pardoned  all  my  sins.  I  can  do 
nothing  but  praise  him.  I  went  to  the  altar  three  times.  .  Last  night 
I  stayed  till  I  suppose  about  eleven  o'clock,  and  Mr.  Merwin  came 
and  knelt  by  me.  He  prayed  to  the  Lord  to  bless  John.  He  men- 
tioned my  pious  parents,  my  father,  my  mother;  how  they  had 
prayed,  had  agonized  for  me.  Every  word  went  to  my  heart,  and 
during  his  prayer,  I  firmly  believe,  the  Lord  turned  me  from  darkness 
to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  to  the  living  God.  Mrs.  Mer- 
win  appeared  as  glad  as  if  it  were  her  own  son,  and  Mr.  Merwin  too. 
Give  my  love  to  all. 

The  work  is  very  great  here  among  the  young  men.  Ten,  I  think, 
were  converted  on  Wednesday  evening,  and  a  number  last  night. 
We  have  meetings  morning,  afternoon,  and  night ;  prayer-meetings 
during  the  intervals  all  day,  without  cessation.  Mr.  Merwin  and 
family  send  love  to  you. 

Pray  for  your  affectionate  son,  John  M'Clintock,  Jun. 

New  York,  Feb.  15, 1S31. 

My  Dear  Parents  :— I  suppose  you  received  my  last  letter, 
wherein  I  gave  you  an  account  of  what  the  Lord  has  done  for  me. 
To  his  name  be  the  glory  forever  !  I  am  resolved  to  press  on  to  the 
mark  for  the  prize  of  my  high  calling  which  is  of  God  in  Christ 
Jesus.  You  will  read  in  the  "  Advocate  "  a  short  account  of  the  great 
and  wonderful  revival  among  us,  and  also  at  Lansingburgh  and  White 
Plains.  The  north  appears  to  be  giving  up  :  let  the  south  keep  no 
longer  back.  We  have  meetings  in  Allen-street  Church  from  half 
past  ten  in  the  morning  till,  generally,  eleven  at  night.  I  never  saw 
such  crowded  congregations  as  we  have  now,  and  every  soul  appears 
to  be  as  attentive  as  the  preacher  himself.    The  immense  throng 


28 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


hangs  over  the  gallery,  breathless  and  silent,  wondering  at  the  work 
of  the  Almighty.     The  altars  are  crowded  every  time  an  oppor- 
tunity ofifers.     Eighty-two  joined  the  Church  on  probation  yesterday, 
and  from  appearances  this  is  but  the  beginning  of  good  days. 
In  haste,  your  affectionate  son,  John  M'Clintock,  Jun. 

The  "  Old  Allen-street  Church,"  as  it  is  still  affection- 
ately called,  was,  in  New  York,  very  much  such  a  one 
as  the  St.  George's  in  Philadelphia,  that  is,  it  was  noted 
for  its  vigor.  After  the  lapse  of  more  than  forty  years 
the  revival  of  1831  and  1832  is  still  mentioned  as  one  of 
the  notable  events  of  its  long  history.  It  was  strong  in 
possessing  such  office-bearers  as  Schureman  and  Samuel 
Halsted,  Henry  Moore,  Dr.  Palmer,  and  others  whose 
names  and  memories  are  still  fragrant  in  the  Churches. 
The  accessions  during  this  memorable  year  reached  sev- 
eral hundred.  Among  the  youths  who  then  united  with 
the  Church  was  Robert  Emory,  the  son  of  Dr.  Emory, 
and  in  after  life  M'Clintock's  close  personal  friend. 

The  young  convert's  time,  when  not  occupied  with 
business,  was  now  wholly  given  to  religious  exercises. 
Meetings  were  held  during  the  winter  without  cessation. 
He  Avrites,  "  I  attend  regularly  Saturday  night  prayer- 
meeting,  class  Friday  night,  and  there  is  preaching  every 
night."  He  remarks  frequently  on  the  great  numbers 
who  join  the  Church,  and  is  all  aflame  with  zeal.  The 
powerful  impulse  of  a  new  life  was  quickly  felt  in  the  re- 
awakening of  his  hunger  for  a  thorough  education.  How- 
ever faithfully  he  might  perform  his  clerkly  duties,  he  yet 
looked  beyond  them.  The  opening  of  the  Wesleyan 
University  at  Middletown  offered  him,  he  thought,  the 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK, 


29 


long-desired  opportunity.  His  correspondence  with  his 
parents  in  relation  to  this  step  was  long  and  anxious. 
Considerations  of  means  to  meet  the  necessary  expense, 
of  fiUal  obligation,  were  weighed  carefully,  and  the  de- 
cision was  reached  only  after  a  minute  discussion  of  every 
detail.  With  all  his  eagerness,  however,  he  leaves  the 
final  decision  to  his  father.    July  9,  1831,  he  writes: — 

After  mature  deliberation  and  a  great  deal  of  solicitude,  with  the 
advice — the  considerate  advice — of  Father  Merwin,  I  have  concluded, 
if  it  is  agreeable  to  you,  to  go  to  Middletown  College.  The  college 
will  commence  on  September  i.  It  would  be  necessary  for  me  to 
leave  the  Book  Room  early  in  August,  as  there  would  be  prepara- 
tion necessary.  Write  immediately  to  Mr.  Waugh ;  request  him,  if 
he  can,  to  procure  another  clerk,  etc. ;  though,  if  he  will  not,  I  shall 
have  to  remain  here.  If  this  attempt  should  fail  I  will  give  up  going 
to  college  at  all. 

Read  in  the  last  "  Advocate  "  the  communication  respecting  the 
Wesleyan  University.  I  could  board  for  from  fifty  to  seventy  cents 
per  week.  You  know  that  I  always  preferred  a  life  of  study,  and 
that  clerkship  is  not  agreeable,  though  I  have  not  said  much  about 
it.  I  think  it  a  providential  opening,  and  the  best  course  I  could 
pursue.  After  this,  if  I  do  not  go  ttow,  it  will  be  too  late.  I  shall  be 
on  nettles  till  you  write  to  Mr.  Waugh. 

He  writes  again  that  this  would  be  the  "  pivot "  on 
which  his  life  would  turn,  and  is  confident  that  he  can 
crowd  the  work  of  four  years  into  two.  His  impatient 
eagerness  brought  a  rebuke  from  home,  and  momentari- 
ly the  scheme  was  abandoned,  and  under  this  impression 
he  writes  to  his  father : — 

I  see  pretty  clearly  that  the  way  is  not,  nor  do  I  think  it  will  ever 
be,  open  for  me  to  go ;  and  I  shall  give  up  all  thoughts  and  inten- 


30 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


tions  on  that  subject,  I  think,  and  turn  myself,  though  it  may  be  with 
violence,  to  business  pursuits.  The  prosecution  of  my  studies  at 
Middletown  would  not  cost  at  most  over  three  hundred  dollars.  I 
have  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  now — but  enough  on  that  subject. 
It  may  be  all  for  the  best. 

The  tenacity  in  executing  a  cherished  purpose,  which 
always  distinguished  him,  was  conspicuous  here.  He 
sent  home  for  his  Caesar,  Sallust,  Grammar,  and  Greek 
Testament,  engaged  a  teacher  to  give  him  night  lessons, 
and  busied  himself  in  getting  ready  for  an  opportunity 
which  might  never  come.  If  the  way  does  not  open  this 
year  it  may  the  next.  His  strong  nature  is  a  sufficient 
prompting,  and  so  he  writes  to  his  sister : — 

The  subject  that  occupies  all  my  spare  time  and  fills  all  my  leisure 
thoughts  is  that  of  going  to  college  at  Middletown.  I  have  entered 
upon  a  course  of  study  to  enable  me  to  prepare  by  next  August  to 
enter  the  University.  Still,  if  it  be  thought  best  I  should  not  go.  and 
that  I  should  turn  my  attention  to  being  a  merchant,  I  should  like  to 
know  immediately,  so  that  I  may  not  be  under  the  necessity  of  spend- 
ing my  nights  this  winter  in  study  and  my  days  in  toil. 

Still,  I  cannot  see  any  particular  use  for  my  going  to  college  ;  but 
yet,  on  the  other  hand,  there  is  something  within  that  seems  to  tell 
me  I  must  go.  Should  Providence  continue  to  bless  me  with  health 
and  strength,  I  think  that  it  will  not  be  said  that  I  have  not  improved 
my  opportunities. 

I  should  like  very  much,  if  I  be  enabled  to  pursue  the  college  course, 
to  obtain  some  foreign  situation,  as  I  am  very  desirous  of  visiting 
European  countries,  particularly  Ireland,  England,  and  France. 

But  this  is  all  building  castles  in  the  air,  which  is  not  very  profit- 
able business  for  a  clerk  in  the  Book  Room  at  nine  dollars  per  week. 
However,  I  do  not  despair,  if  God  be  willing,  that  I  shall  yet  be 
something  more  than  that. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  3I 

Early  in  1832  he  was  able  to  give  his  employers, 
Messrs.  Emory  and  Waugh,  notice  of  his  intention  to 
leave  on  May  i.  They  were  loth  to  part  with  their  clerk, 
and  wished  him  to  remain  till  June  15.  He  is  fearful 
of  being  detained  still  longer,  and  sends  this  message  to 
his  father:  "Should  Messrs.  Emory  and  Waugh  make 
any  proposition  to  you  relative  to  my  remaining  after 
June  15,  I  ask  that  you  will  not  listen  to  them." 

On  the  first  of  May  of  this  year  the  General  Conference 
assembled  in  the  Union  Church,  Philadelphia,  then  com- 
monly known  as  the  "  Academy."  The  Book  Agents 
were  these  to  render  an  account  of  their  stewardship, 
and  changes  were  expected.  It  was  rumored  that  Dr. 
Emory,  who,  with  his  colleague,  had  laid  solid  founda- 
tions for  the  great  house,  and  doubled  its  business,  would 
be  elected  a  bishop.  This  expectation  was  verified. 
Mr.  Waugh  was  returned  as  senior  Agent,  and  late  in 
June  young  M'Clintock  found  himself  free  of  the  count- 
ing-room and  at  home. 

He  had  developed  rapidly  in  the  two  years ;  body  and 
mind  had  grown ;  he  had  entered  fully  into  an  earnest 
Christian  life,  and  had  found  his  vocation.  In  the  brief 
snatches  of  his  correspondence  which  we  have  cited  it 
has  been  impossible  to  reproduce  its  sweet  affection- 
ateness,  and  the  deference  this  son  paid  to  the  wishes 
of  his  father  and  mother.  A  single  word  or  hint  from 
either  restrained  the  eagerness  of  an  impetuous  tem- 
perament. In  his  intercourse  with  them  there  was  no 
secrecy,  no  hidden  purpose  which  he  was  ashamed  to 
reveal ;  all  was  as  open  as  day,  and  as  loving  as  though 


32  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

he  had  been  but  a  child.  This  combination  of  manli- 
ness and  gentleness,  of  ardor  and  ready  submission  to 
recognized  law,  remained  a  life-long  characteristic  of  Dr. 
M'Clintock. 

He  began  this  year  a  Diary,"  which  is  the  most  valu- 
able memorial  now  remaining  of  his  busy  life.  Accord- 
ing to  the  religious  fashion  of  forty  years  ago,  it  is,  in  its 
earlier  entries,  mainly  introspective — a  register  of  aspira- 
tions, self-communion,  and  self-condemnation,  such  as  is 
invariably  to  be  found  in  personal  records  of  this  type. 
John  Foster  advises  every  man  to  write  his  own  memoirs  ; 
a  feat  possible,  perhaps,  when  life  is  closing,  when  one 
can  dimly  see  its  full  meaning.  Still,  even  the  poorest 
diary  is  valuable  as  a  history ;  and  this  one,  which  Dr. 
M'Clintock  has  left  us,  furnishes  a  very  vivid  picture  of 
his  daily  activities.  We  shall  use  it  freely  in  the  course 
of  our  narrative. 

Its  first  entry,  dated  July  29,  1832,  is  a  devout  dedica- 
tion of  himself  to  the  service  of  God,  a  dedication  never 
retracted.  From  1832  to  1870,  thirty-eight  years,  it  re- 
mained the  guiding  principle  of  his  conduct.  It  was  the 
fruitful  germ  out  of  which  all  his  subsequent  life  was 
developed  : — 

I,  John  M'Clintock,  Jun.,  being  seventeen  years  and  eight  months 
past  of  age,  seeing  the  folly  of  all  earthly  things,  and  being  determined 
to  seek  happiness  in  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  in  which  alone,  I  am 
convinced,  it  may  be  found  ;  do  fully  and  willingly,  yet  firmly  and 
steadfastly,  "give  myself  up,  through  Jesus  power,  his  name  to 
glorify."  Resigning  every  earthly  hope,  every  worldly  enjoyment, 
(except  in  subordination  to  the  great  end  of  saving  my  soul,)  I  do, 
in  the  strength  of  the  Lord  God  of  Hosts,  and  trusting  in  the  assist- 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  33 

ance  of  his  grace,  dedicate  my  soul  and  my  body,  my  time,  my  tal- 
ents, and  my  all,  to  his  service.    May  God  help  me ! 

Witness  my  hand,  JOHN  M'Clintock,  Jun. 

With  the  help  of  the  Lord,  without  which  I  can  do  nothing-,  I  will 
live  by  the  following  rules,  until  I  shall  find  it  expedient  or  profita- 
ble to  alter  or  amend  them  : — 

1.  Rising  as  early  as  I  awake.  Prayer  first.  Reading  the  Scrip- 
tures by  Stone's  Guide — four  chapters  in  the  morning.  Occupy  one 
hour,  if  time  will  permit,  before  breakfast,  in  reading  and  prayer. 

2.  Uniformly  pray  at  noon. 

3.  The  hour  before  retiring  to  rest,  (or  at  least  part  of  it,)  which  I 
have  fixed  at  half-past  ten  o'clock,  must  be  devoted  to  religious 
reading  and  prayer,  with  the  keeping  of  this  diary. 

4.  Sabbath  afternoons  will  be  devoted  to  religious  reading,  prayer, 
self-examination,  etc. 

5.  I  will  attend  diligently  (according  to  the  rules  which  I  have  laid 
down)  to  the  prosecution  of  my  studies. 

6.  "  Live,  not  to  eat  and  drink,  but  eat  and  drink  to  five."  May 
God  assist  me,  that  I  may  not  trust  in  my  own  merits,  or  in  the 
performance  of  duty,  but  in  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  ! 
Amen. 

The  attempt  to  make  life  purely  mechanical,  accord- 
ing to  the  scheme  of  these  resolutions,  was  followed 
by  the  usual  results.  The  ardent  youth  found  himself 
continually  failing.  The  very  next  entry  is  one  of  hu- 
miliation : — 

"  July  3,  1832.  Truly  I  am  fickle  as  the  winds.  This 
day  I  have  made  no  progress  in  the  life  of  godliness, 
but  have  sinned  grievously  against  the  Preserver  of  my 
existence.    May  he  take  away  the  pride  of  my  heart !  " 

The  next  day  he  complains  that  he  performs  his  re- 
ligious duties  in  a  dull  and  listless  manner;  soon  after 
3 


34  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

that  his  faith  is  weak,  that  his  mind  wanders  when  it 
ought  to  be  fixed  on  serious  subjects,  that  his  prayers 
are  cold.  The  rigid  subjection  of  his  youthful  nature 
to  the  iron  rule  which  he  has  prescribed  for  it  creates  a 
perpetual  conflict,  in  which  he  often  suffers  defeat.  That 
these  resolute  efforts  to  acquire  self-discipline  were  not 
ineffective  one  cannot  doubt.  His  entries  soon,  however, 
cease  to  be  of  the  regulation  pattern,  and  before  the 
month  is  out  he  sums  up  his  wants  in  a  single  sentence, 
which  is  wholly  like  himself:  These  two  things  I  desire 
very  much;  i.  A  clean  heart;  2.  A  clear  head."  One 
more  entry,  and  we  will  dismiss  the  introspective  phase 
of  the  diary.  It  belongs  to  the  latter  end  of  July, 
1832:— 

All  mankind  are  under  sentence  of  death,  certain  to  be  executed, 
and  at  an  hour  of  which  we  know  not.  The  short  and  uncertain 
time  allowed  us  between  the  sentence  and  execution  will  deteimine 
our  condition  for  eternity.  Then  thoughtless,  unremitting  pleasure, 
is  the  greatest  indecency ;  a  fondness  for  the  world,  the  greatest 
folly ;  and  self-indulgence,  downright  madness.  On  the  contrary, 
constant  seriousness  of  temper,  a  universal  care  and  exactness  of 
life,  an  indifference  for  the  world,  self-denial,  sobriety,  and  watchful- 
ness, must  be  our  greatest  wisdom. 

(These  are  the  words  of  Thomas  Wilson,  Bishop  of  Sodor  and 
Man.)  Truly,  then,  I  must  lack  wisdom,  I  must  be  a  consummate 
fool,  and  a  "  downright  madman."  Nor  is  this  too  harsh  judgment ; 
for  do  I  deny  myself  continually?  On  the  contrary,  are  not  my 
thoughts  too  much  taken  up  with  supplying  my  wants  and  my  appe- 
tites Not,  to  be  sure,  the  grosser  appetites — eating,  drinking,  and 
sensual  indulgences.  But  when  I  fall  upon  an  entertaining  book, 
how  do  I  bur>^  myself  in  it,  forgetting  all  things  else  !  and  even,  for 
a  time,  forgetting  God  !    This  is  not  as  it  should  be.    Lord,  help  me 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


35 


to  keep  thee  always  before  my  eyes  !  to  have  no  other  hope  or  trust 
but  in  the  merits  of  thy  Son,  Jesus  Christ! 

And  so  this  young  man,  searching  himself  after  John 
Wesley's  fashion,  could  find  no  greater  charge  to  write 
down  than  this,  that  he  loved  his  book  too  well !  It  was 
a  failing  he  had  all  through  life,  but  he  soon  learned  that, 
if  a  failing,  it  leaned  very  much  to  virtue's  side.  The 
clean  heart  and  the  clear  head  came  into  harmony  by 
and  by. 

Early  in  September  of  this  year  he  left  home  for  the 
Wesleyan  University,  Middletown.  His  boyish  dreams 
were  at  last  to  have  their  fulfillment.  But,  as  if  to  teach 
him  patience,  his  pretty  fabric  of  hope  came  down  very 
quickly  to  the  ground.  In  less  than  a  week  after  his 
arrival  at  the  University  he  was  taken  seriously  ill. 
Days  of  pain  and  prostration  followed,  so  that  he  was 
compelled  to  return  home.  I  intend,  however,"  he  re- 
cords in  his  diary,  if  my  health  will  allow,  to  prosecute 
my  studies  privately  this  winter,  and  to  go  on  again  with 
a  collegiate  course,  should  my  way  be  clear."  Toward 
the  end  of  October  he  entered  the  Freshman  Class  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  in  his  native  city.  It  was  in 
the  middle  of  the  term  ;  his  preparation  was,  no  doubt, 
in  some  particulars  defective.  Hard  work  was  requisite 
to  bring  him  up,  and  the  hard  work  was  not  wanting. 

With  a  mind  constituted  and  cultured  as  we  have 
here  seen,  the  predetermination  of  young  M'Clintock  to 
a  ministerial  life  was  almost  assured.  His  Church  had 
taught  him  the  need  of  a  divine  call  to  this  service,  not 
certainly  in  any  preternatural  sense,  but  as  made  apparent 


36  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

in  a  clear  conviction  of  duty.  This  remains,  according 
to  the  teaching  of  Methodism,  with  the  Christian  minis- 
ter, as  the  answer  which  he  may  give  to  his  own  con- 
science for  assuming  the  sacred  function.  The  call  of 
the  Church  has  been  deemed  equally  requisite  as  a  direct 
authorization,  without  which  no  one  may  assume  to  teach 
the  people.  By  this  twofold  vocation  the  Christian  com- 
munity is  guarded,  on  the  one  side  against  the  inroads 
of  fanaticism,  and  on  the  other  against  the  degradation 
of  the  ministry  to  the  level  of  a  merely  secular  pursuit. 

I  have  had,"  writes  the  subject  of  our  memoir,  ''many 
serious  struggles  as  to  whether  I  should  determine  to 
prepare  myself,  if  the  Lord  should  call  me,  to  the  work 
of  the  ministry.  I  have  had  much  and  very  good  ad- 
vice, and  after  serious  deliberation  and  prayer  upon 
the  subject,  have  come  to  the  conclusions:  i.  To  en- 
deavor to  live  to  the  honor  of  God.  2.  To  bend  all  my 
studies  toward  the  ministry.  3.  To  wait  the  openings 
of  his  Providence,  and  may  he  guide  and  direct  me 
through  it  all !  " 

He  had  not  to  wait  long  for  "  the  openings  of  Provi- 
dence." On  the  24th  of  March,  1833,  he  makes  the 
entry :  "  I  was  informed  yesterday  that  I  am  on  trial  as 
an  exhorter  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  This 
has  been  done  without  my  knowledge,  without  my  seek- 
ing; if  it  be  the  will  of  God  and  he  have  opened  the 
way,  I  doubt  not  that  all  will  be  made  clear."  A  month 
after  he  received  exhorter's  license.  He  writes  of  himself : 
''Though  I  feel  my  utter  un^vorthiness,  yet  Christ  is 
worthy,  and  in  him  I  trust  for  support  and  safety."  In 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


37 


November  of  this  year  he  made  his  first  essay  at  speak- 
ing in  a  church,  was  much  embarrassed,  but  not  discour- 
aged by  the  result.  His  course  of  life  is  by  this  time 
clear  to  him,  and  he  sums  up  his  future  career  in  these 
words : — 

My  mind  is  now  pretty  clearly  made  up  that  it  is  the  will  of  God 
that  I  should  be  a  Methodist  preacher.  Many  causes  have  induced 
me  to  come  to  this  conclusion,  which  I  hope  I  have  reached  in  the  fear 
of  the  Lord,  and  with  a  single  eye  to  his  glory.  I  humbly  believe 
that  my  heart  is  now  firmly  fixed  to  serve  the  Lord  in  any  way  that 
he  may  appoint,  and  though  I  am  often,  very  often,  drawn  aside  by 
temptation,  I  am  still  endeavoring  to  walk  in  the  narrow  way.  I  see, 
however,  much  sin,  great  depravity,  existing  in  my  heart ;  and  my 
desire  and  prayer  to  God  is,  that  I  may  be  made  pure  and  holy. 

This  final  decision  cost  him  no  little  effort.  He  was 
naturally,  I  may  say  instinctively,  very  ambitious,  had  a 
keen  sense  of  the  value  of  wealth,  and  the  enjoyable- 
ness  of  a  great  fame.  The  Methodist  ministry  was  to 
his  mind  a  complete  surrender  of  both.  Its  emoluments 
were  then  small,  its  opportunities  of  culture  very  slen- 
der, its  incessant  change  disheartening  to  him  as  a 
student.  He  had  learned  by  this  time  enough  of  his 
capabilities  to  be  aware  that  he  might  expect  to  attain 
eminence  in  any  profession  ;  what  opportunities  he  might 
have  in  an  itinerant  life  for  the  gratification  of  his  schol- 
arly tastes  he  could  not  know.  The  prospect  must 
have  appeared  to  him  dark  enough.  His  dedication  to 
this  service  was,  therefore,  a  surrender  of  his  preferences 
to  his  convictions  of  duty.  True,  he  found,  according 
to  the  divine  order,  that  he  who  gives  up  all,  finds  all 


38  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

again  ;  but  this  was  not  so  clear  to  him  at  the  beginning. 
Nor  did  he  ever,  in  after  years,  look  back  with  any  lin- 
gering regrets  upon  the  choice  which  he  had  made.  To 
the  end  of  his  days  the  appellation  which  he  most 
prized  was  that  of  a  "  Methodist  preacher ;  "  whatever 
else  he  was,  he  was  a  minister  of  Christ's  Gospel,  first, 
last,  and  always.  His  love  went  with  his  decision,  and 
he  gloried  in  the  vocation  to  which  he  had  consecrated 
his  life. 

The  calls  of  the  recognizing  and  approving  Church 
followed  in  quick  succession.  In  December  of  this  sam.e 
year  he  was  proposed  as  local  preacher,  on  a  month's 
probation,  as  was  then  the  cautious  practice  of  Philadel- 
phia Methodism.  "  This  proposal,"  he  writes  in  his 
diary,  "  was  made  without  my  knowledge,  by  one  of  the 
old  preachers ;  so  that  all  my  movements  hitherto  to- 
ward preaching  the  everlasting  Gospel  have  been  under 
the  direction  of  the  Church.  I  have  not,  therefore,  to 
all  human  appearance,  '  run  before  I  was  sent ; '  and  I 
hope  that  so  the  case  is  in  the  eye  of  Heaven.  Were  I 
not  convinced  that  it  is  my  duty  to  preach  the  Gospel, 
the  whole  world  would  not  induce  me  to  assume  the 
awful  responsibility  of  the  ministerial  office  ;  but,  blessed 
be  God  !  I  believe  that  his  grace  will  be  sufficient  for 
me  in  every  form  of  trial." 

About  this  time — the  close  of  the  year  1833 — he  wit- 
nessed and  records  an  event  which  left  a  lasting  impres- 
sion on  Philadelphia  Methodism,  the  dedication  of  the 
new  Union  Church.  The  edifice  which  the  new  struc- 
ture displaced  was  still  known  as  the     Academy."  It 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  39 

was  begun  in  1741,  by  Whitefield,  whose  design  was 
that  it  should  furnish  forever  a  preaching  place  for  itin- 
erant ministers.  He  left  the  property  encumbered  with 
debt.  In  1749  it  was  bought  by  Franklin,  and  con- 
verted into  the  first  Academy  of  Philadelphia.  Here, 
in  1753,  the  college  of  the  city,  which  subsequently 
expanded  into  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  was 
placed.  When,  after  the  removal  of  the  national  capi- 
tal to  Washington,  the  president's  house,  on  Ninth- 
street,  was  vacated,  the  University  was  removed  thither, 
and  the  Methodists  obtained  possession  of  the  south 
part  of  the  edifice.  It  was,  as  fitted  up  for  their 
worship,  the  embodiment  of  the  simplicity  so  much 
affected  by  the  people  of  the  Quaker  city.  The  outer 
doors  opened  directly  upon  the  assembly  room  ;  the 
sexes  were  separated  in  the  arrangement  of  the  seats  by 
a  line  distinctly  marked.  The  solid  benches,  innocent 
of  all  cushions,  suggested  massive  strength.  The  white 
pulpit,  set  well  aloft,  and  reached  by  a  winding  stair, 
looked  to  youthful  eyes  a  place  of  awful  sanctity.  Here 
assembled  the  elite  of  the  Methodism  of  Philadelphia ; 
for  the  "Academy"  was  easily  at  the  head  of  the 
Churches.  Its  leaders.  Dr.  Sargent,  Inglis,  Benson, 
Chubb,  Wilmer,  Yard,  and  others  well  known  in  their 
day,  were  men  of  solid  worth.  James  B.  Longacre  pre- 
sided over  the  Sunday-school  with  a  devotion  that  never 
wearied.  The  society  represented  a  type  of  ^Methodism 
in  which  enthusiasm  was  moderated,  but  not  quenched. 
It  was  noted  for  its  charities,  among  which  its  numer- 
ous mission-schools  were  not  the  least  conspicuous. 


40 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


The  new  church,  which  is  still  standing,  was  thought 
in  that  day  a  marvel  of  beauty.  It  is,  however,  no  more 
than  a  plain  brick  building,  with  its  gable  facing  the 
street,  and  wholly  without  architectural  pretensions ; 
but  the  luxuries  of  carpeted  floors,  and  a  pulpit  of  pol- 
ished mahogany,  and  the  harmonious  blending  of  colors 
in  the  decoration  of  the  interior,  were  then  considered 
magnificent.  "  The  collection,"  writes  M'Clintock  in  his 
diary,  "  amounted  to  nearly  one  thousand  dollars,"  a 
sum  without  precedent  in  those  simple  times.  To  some 
of  us  young  folk  the  greatest  charm  of  the  church  was 
the  circulating  library  generously  provided  for  its  mem- 
bers ;  and  v\-hat  astonishment  was  created  in  the  minds 
of  its  staid  trustees  when  Dr.  Sargent  recommended  the 
purchase  of  Walter  Scott's  romances,  then  greatly  de- 
lighting the  world,  for  its  shelves ! 

Young  M'Clintock's  religious  ardor  was  no  drawback 
to  his  progress  as  a  student.  He  was  soon  in  the  front 
rank  of  his  class.  The  reports  of  Professor  Reed,  the 
Secretary  of  the  Faculty,  place  him  "  number  one  on  the 
merit  roll."  Heart  and  mind  were  both  awakening  to 
the  highest  activity.  We  have  recommenced,"  he  says, 
"  the  University  prayer-meetings  on  Friday  afternoons. 
On  last  Friday  I  had  some  liberty  in  speaking  and  pray- 
ing with  a  few  fellow-students.  O,  that  I  were  more 
faithful  in  relation  to  them  ! " 

Having  stood  at  the  head  of  the  Sophomore  Class  for 
several  months  he  made  a  leap  to  the  Junior,  abridging 
his  college  term  by  one  year.  He  thus  speaks  of  this 
event : — 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLIXTOCK. 


41 


By  a  strenuous  effort  I  this  day  passed  an  examina- 
tion for  entrance  into  the  Junior  Class,  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  thus  abridging  the  collegiate  term  by  one 
year.  But  though  in  literature  my  advancement  has 
been  gratifying  to  myself  yet  I  fear  that  it  has  been  at 
the  expense  of  religion.  O  when  shall  I  be  entirely  de- 
voted to  God  !  swallowed  up  in  his  will !  " 

This  rapid  ascent  was  the  beginning  of  a  series  of 
strenuous  exertions  of  all  his  mental  and  physical  en- 
ergy, which  ended  in  impairing  a  fine  constitution,  and 
rendering  Dr.  M'Clintock  a  martyr  to  attacks  of  illness 
during  the  rest  of  his  life.  In  one  respect  he  could  not 
help  himself.  His  father's  business  was  unprosperous, 
and  not  long  after  this  date  ended  in  disaster.  But 
more  than  all  else,  it  was  then  the  practice  of  the  Church 
to  hurry  young  men  of  promise  into  the  active  ministry. 
There  was  a  half-confessed  fear  that  knowledge  would 
spoil  the  nascent  preacher  and  unfit  him  for  his  duties. 
Never  was  maxim  more  perverted  than  John  Wesley's 
"  Getting  knowledge  is  good,  but  saving  souls  is  better." 
It  turned  the  scale  against  culture  to  the  injury  of  many 
an  ardent  youth.  No  doubt  the  necessities  of  the 
Church  were  urgent.  In  the  case  of  the  subject  of  our 
memoir  the  conflict  of  feeling  must  have  been  severe. 
The  pursuit  of  knowledge  he  could  not  give  up,  nor 
could  he  disregard  the  calls  of  the  Church.  He  decided 
to  do  his  full  duty  to  both  Church  and  University,  and 
what  he  decided  he  executed  with  all  the  force  of  an  iron 
will,  but  with  such  consequences  to  himself  as  this  nar- 
rative will  be  much  occupied  in  describing. 


42 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


He  entered  the  Junior  Class  of  the  Univ^ersity  in 
March,  1834,  ranking  as  number  fourteen;  by  the  end 
of  July  he  is  "  number  six,  with  distinction."  This  was 
nearly  the  last  of  his  University  residence ;  the  rest  of 
his  college  work  he  accomplished  single-handed,  while 
occupied  with  the  active  duties  of  the  pastorate.  His 
first  summons  was  from  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Matthias,  to  Flem- 
ington.  New  Jersey,  where  he  spent  the  long  college 
vacation  of  1834  in  preaching.  Despite  all  his  plans  to 
the  contrary,  he  found  himself  next  autumn  in  charge  of 
the  Church  at  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey.  How  this 
was  brought  about  we  will  let  him  describe  himself : — 

Elizabethtown,  N.  J.,  October  17, 1834. 

After  much  enjoyment  of  soul  and  body  on  the  Fleming-ton  Circuit, 
I  left  it  and  returned  to  Philadelphia  about  September  i.  The 
cause  of  my  sudden  departure  was  the  failure  of  my  father,  who,  by 
the  accidents  of  business  and  other  causes,  was  compelled  to  stop 
payment  and  close  his  concerns.  The  circumstances  of  his  failure 
have  been  very  trying  and  mortifying-  to  himself  and  the  family ;  but 
we  have  been  kindly  treated  by  all  our  true  friends,  though  some 
who  called  themselves  friends  may  have  forgotten  their  friendship. 
I  have  enjoyed  myself  well  in  every  respect  since,  and  have  enjoyed 
much  of  the  favor  of  God.  Yet  how  unworthy  have  I  been,  how 
vain,  how  trifling,  how  childish. 

I  entered  anew,  on  September  15,  upon  my  duties  at  the  Univer- 
sity, having  formed  the  resolution  tc  spend  this  winter  closely  in  their 
performance.  But  call  after  call  has  been  made  upon  me  to  fill  va- 
cancies in  the  ministerial  ranks,  and  though  convictions  of  my  own 
weakness  and  incapacity,  and  desires  for  self-improvement,  operated 
strongly,  inducing-  me  to  remain  at  home,  I  began  to  think  that  duty 
called  me  to  obey.  Finally,  my  esteemed  friend  and  brother  William 
H.  Gilder  was  compelled  to  leave  his  appointment  at  this  place  on 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


43 


account  of  ill  health,  and  his  powerful  calls  were  added  to  the  rest. 
After  advice,  thought,  and  prayer,  I  formed  the  resolution  to  set  for- 
ward in  the  strength  of  giace  ;  and  in  pursuance  of  this  resolution  left 
my  home  yesterday  morning,  and  arrived  in  this  place  last  night. 

/  have  a  fearful  task  before  me.  I  must  maintain  the  regular 
course  of  college  study,  and  attend,  at  the  same  time,  to  the  duties 
of  the  station.  O  God,  my  hope  is  in  thee  !  Fearfully  and  trem- 
blingly, yet  with  "a  glad  heart  and  free,"  do  I  enter  upon  this  high 
and  holy  work.  O  Lord,  be  thou  my  strength  and  support,  and  I 
shall  succeed. 

It  was,  indeed,  a  fearful  task  he  had  before  him,  but  he 
knew  no  such  word  as  fail. 

Nothing  can  exceed  the  affectionateness  with  which 
he  writes  and  speaks  of  his  parents.  Though  practically 
his  own  master  and  shaping  his  life  for  himself,  he  turns 
to  them  for  counsel,  or  sends  them  words  of  good  cheer. 
Every  important  step  is  freely  discussed  in  his  correspond- 
ence with  them.  He  writes  from  home  to  his  mother, 
who  had  left  the  city  for  a  short  time  in  poor  health : — 

Philadelphia,  Tuesday,  A  ngust  26, 1S34. 
I  arrived  at  home  this  afternoon  in  perfect  health  and  spirits, 
and  am  glad  to  find  that  things  are  going  on  so  well.  I  never 
enjoyed  myself  more  in  my  life  than  since  I  have  been  gone  :  the 
kindest  people,  and  some  the  most  pious,  that  I  have  ever  met  with. 
I  was  up  in  Brother  Force's  district,  at  Asbury  camp-meeting, 
among  the  mountains  in  Warren  County,  N.  J.,  and  was  much  per- 
suaded to  remain  among  them.  I  was  also  at  Pennington  camp- 
meeting,  (Brother  Gilder's,)  where  many  kind  friends  inquired  after 
you.  Moreover,  the  presiding  elder  presses  me  hard  to  go  to  the 
Plainfield  Station,  until  Conference,  in  the  room  of  Brother  Janes, 
who  is  ill ;  but  I  believe  that  my  duty  lies  at  home  for  the  present, 
and,  therefore,  I  shall  stay  there. 


44 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


And  now  I  wish  to  tell  you  that  I  am  happy  despite  all  circum- 
stances outwardly,  and  pray  sincerely  that  you  may  be  so. 

Do  not  let  the  matter  which  is  now  brought  to  a  close  distress 
you  at  all.  Rest  assured  that  our  real  friends  will  think  none  the 
worse  of  us ;  and  we  should  not  care  for  the  opinions  of  others,  I 
think  all  will  go  better ;  we  shall  have  peace  and  quietness  within, 
whatever  may  be  without.  You  have  children  who  will  always  labor 
to  make  you  happy,  blessed  with  health  and  strength  ;  and  "  with 
the  Lord  on  our  side,  we  need  not  fear  what  man  can  do  unto  us." 

P.  S.  Be  assured  that  all  is  going  on  well  at  home.  You  need  be 
under  no  uneasiness.    Enjoy  yourself  now — do  enjoy  yourself. 

The  next,  to  his  father,  is  in  the  same  strain  : — 

Elizabetutown,  N.  J.,  Monday^  Jan.  12, 1S35. 

I  arrived  safely,  with  all  my  concerns,  on  the  evening  of  the 
stormy  Friday  on  which  I  left  you,  after  a  pleasantly  cold  ride  of 
eight  hours.  My  health  has  been  very  good  since  my  return,  so 
that,  of  myself,  I  have  no  news  to  communicate. 

I  have  preached  regularly  three  times  each  Sabbath.  Yesterday 
we  had  the  largest  congregation,  I  think,  that  I  have  seen  in  the 
place,  and  very  attentive,  and  I  sincerely  hope  that  good  was  done. 
Four  joined  at  the  love-feast :  and  we  expect  as  many  more  to  join  at 
the  next  general  class-meeting. 

Our  next,  and  last.  Quarterly  Conference  for  this  station  will  be 
held  on  February  9.  At  the  Quarterly  Meeting,  the  presiding  elder. 
Brother  Matthias,  in  his  conversation  with  me,  thought  it  best  that  I 
should  obtain  recommendation  from  that  conference  to  the  Annual 
Conference,  and  told  me  that,  should  I  be  admitted,  my  stay  in 
college  from  April  until  the  time  of  graduation  might  be  allowed 
without  difficulty ;  and  that,  therefore,  I  could  take  a  circuit  at  the 
ensuing  Conference,  a  substitute  being  provided  until  I  could  join 
the  station  in  June. 

It  has  been  my  view  of  the  subject  to  follow  the  plan  laid  down 
by  the  presiding  elder  ;  but,  of  course,  I  should  not  take  so  impor- 
tant a  step  without  m.ore  particular  advice  than  I  have  yet  had  from 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLIXTOCK. 


45. 


you  in  the  case.  I,  therefore,  lay  the  subject  before  you  for  considera- 
tion, wishing  an  answer  as  soon  as  you  may  find  time.  I  have  had 
no  letter  since  my  return,  and  am  anxious  to  hear  the  state  of 
affairs. 

I  have  not,  as  yet,  attended  Dr.  Adrain,  [his  private  instructor  in 
mathematics.]  I  shall  study  as  much  as  possible  before  applying  to 
him,  because  the  cost  pulls  pretty  heavily  on  my  slender  purse,  and 
I  wish  to  be  as  economical  as  I  can.  The  books  necessary  for 
this  last  collegiate  term  will  be  very  costly. 

I  should  like  to  know  Dr.  Wylie's  opinion  of  my  standing  and 
prospects  in  college,  for  I  value  his  opinion  at  no  small  rate.  My 

friend   ,  of  Columbia  College,  lost  the  favor  of  his  best  friend 

among  the  professors  by  crossing  his  will.  However,  I  am  not  con- 
scious of  any  such  misdeeds  on  my  part  with  regard  to  the  profes- 
sors in  our  University.  I  trust  that  I  am  on  good  terms  with 
them  all. 

It  shall  always  be  my  endeavor  to  do  all  that  I  can,  in  any  way, 
for  the  happiness  of  my  parents.  And  although  I  am  unfortunately 
deficient  in  the  power  of  expressing  outwardly,  and  at  all  times,  my 
good  feelings,  still  I  am  unwilling  to  charge  myself  with  wilful  disre- 
gard of  parental  advice,  or  wilful  injury  of  parental  feeling. 

Very  decided  objection  was  made  by  the  new  provost 
of  the  University,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ludlow,  to  M'CHntock's 
long  absence  from  college  duty,  necessitated  by  the  tak- 
ing of  the  pastoral  charge  at  Elizabethtown.  A  part 
of  the  winter  was,  therefore,  spent  in  Philadelphia. 
At  the  session  of  the  Philadelphia  Conference,  April, 
1835,  he  was  received  on  trial  as  a  travelling  preacher, 
and  appointed  to  Jersey  City.  He  removed  immediately 
to  his  new  field  of  labor,  and  still  continuing  his  studies, 
graduated  A.B.  at  the  University,  July  26,  with  distin- 
guished honor. 


46  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

He  was  now  fairly  entered  upon  his  life-work,  and  saw 
his  career  plainly  before  him.  His  preparation  for  it 
had  taxed  all  his  energies,  but  his  plan  had  been  exe- 
cuted with  entire  success.  Four  years  of  university 
training  had  been  crowded  into  three,  and  one  of  these 
had  been  spent  in  preaching.  He  was  now  in  his  twen- 
ty-first year.  In  person  he  was  of  medium  height,  florid 
in  complexion,  alert  in  movement,  and  winning  in  man- 
ner. His  voice,  though  not  of  great  compass,  was 
melodious,  and  his  bearing  graceful.  A  stranger,  seeing 
him  for  the  first  time,  was  struck  at  once  with  the  large 
size  of  the  head,  and  the  almost  spherical  roundness  of 
the  forehead.  His  facility  in  the  acquisition  of  knowl- 
edge, which  he  had  by  this  time  tested,  gave  him  the 
assurance  of  rapid  success.  He  had,  however,  paid  too 
large  a  price  for  his  victory.  He  was  destined  to  find, 
very  shortly,  that  the  foundations  of  his  strength  had 
been  undermined,  and  that  much  of  his  life  was  to  be  a 
long  battle  with  disease. 

LETTERS  FROM  JULY,  1832,  TO  JUNE,  1835. 
L 

Philadelphia,  July  5, 1882. 

My  dear  Samuel  : — Though  but  a  short  time  has  elapsed  since 
my  leaving  you  and  your  city,  and  though,  during  that  time,  I  have 
been  almost  constantly  engaged  in  a  round  of  visiting  and  receiving 
visits,  of  outgoing  and  incoming,  still  I  have  found  time  often  to  think 
with  regret  on  the  numerous  friends  and  enjoyments  I  left  behind  on 
quitting  New  York. 

But,  after  all,  home  is  still  home.  The  heartfelt  joy  with  which  I 
know  I  am  received  in  my  own  father's  house,  as  well  as  the  cor- 
dial and  oft-repeated  congratulations  of  my  many  friends,  cannot 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


47 


but  be  grateful  to  a  human  heart,  especially  one  of  my  peculiar 
temperament. 

I  entered  upon  my  studies  on  Monday  last  with  fixed  resolutions, 
ardent  feelings,  and  confident  expectations  of  continuing  the  pursuit 
of  them  closely  and  successfully.  I  was  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  the 
rich  blessing  which  Sterne  has  so  beautifully  and  forcibly  addressed  : — 
"  O  blessed  health  !  thou  art  above  ^11  gold  and  treasure :  'tis  thou 
who  enlargest  the  soul,  and  openest  all  its  powers  to  receive  instruc- 
tion, and  to  relish  virtue  !  He  who  hath  thee,  hath  little  more  to 
wish  for ;  and  he  who  is  so  wretched  as  to  want  thee,  wants  every 
thing  with  thee  !  "  I  was  soon  taught,  that  in  order  to  preserve  this 
state  of  health  I  must  be  more  regular  in  all  things. 

I  have  been  highly  gratified,  and  I  think  profited,  too,  by  reading, 
during  the  past  week,  the  "  Life  of  Stoner."  What  humility,  what 
judgment,  decision,  and  true  godliness  were  evinced  in  that  man's  life 
and  conduct.  And  I  think  I  have  never  read  any  religious  experi- 
ence that  so  fully  coincides  with  my  own  as  does  his,  laid  down  in  his 
diary.  His  constant  fear  of  the  risings  of  pride,  in  particular,  strikes 
me  as  exhibiting  a  peculiar  feature  of  my  own  character.  Does  it 
not  of  yours?  Pride !  pride !  pride ! — "that  secret  bosom  sin!" 
God  help  us  to  expel  it ! 

I  still  find  myself,  notwithstanding  my  numerous  resolutions,  the 
same  weak,  sinful,  erring  mortal  that  I  ever  was.  But  God  knows 
that  my  desire  is  to  seek  and  to  serve  him  ;  to  leave  the  world  be- 
hind, with  its  allurements  and  its  vanities,  and  strive  to  lay  up  my 
"treasure  in  heaven."  Ah!  I  am  but  an  earthen  vessel!  But, 
blessed  be  his  name  !  "  God  has  committed  this  treasure  to  earth- 
en vessels,  that  the  excellency  of  the  power  may  be  of  God  and 
not  of  us  !  " 

Do  you  pray  for  me  ?  Will  you  fix  on  a  day  in  the  week,  and  an 
hour,  in  which  our  prayers  shall  ascend  before  the  throne  for  each 
other — when  each  shall  know  that,  at  the  self-same  hour,  the  other 
is  supplicating  the  Father  of  both  for  him  ?  Fix  upon  a  time  that 
will  suit  yourself,  and  notify  me  in  your  next — your  first  letter — which 
I  shall  look  for  daily,  eagerly,  and  earnestly.    My  feeble  prayers  have 


48 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


been  offered,  and  shall  be  offered  up  for  you,  that  the  Lord  may 
guide  you  in  the  path  of  hfe  by  his  unerring  counsel— 

"  A  friend  is  worth  all  hazards  we  can  run: 
Poor  is  the  friendless  master  of  a  world  ; 
A  world  in  purchase  for  a  friend  is  gain." 

Truly  the  communion  of  friends  is  sweet.  But  if  an  earthly  friend- 
ship is  worth  this  sacrifice,  of  how  much  greater  value  is  the  friend- 
ship of  Him  "  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother  ?  "  Shall  we,  then,  in 
consideration  of  almost  nothing  in  comparison  to  the  world,  forego 
this  friendship  ?  God  forbid  it !  O,  my  brother,  hold  fast  whereunto 
you  have  obtained  ;  and  may  your  life  indeed  be  with  Christ  in  God. 

Mr.  Saml-el  a.  Puedy. 

II. 

Philadelphia,  Not,  17,  1S32. 

Dear  Andrus  : — My  quandaries  have  all  been  settled  at  last : 
law,  physic,  business,  and  every  thing  else  have  been  given  up,  and  I 
am  now  bending  all  my  energies  to  the  acquirement  of  knowledge — 
yes,  college  knowledge.  I  entered  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  as 
a  Freshman,  on  30th  ultimo,  and  I  have  since  been  advancing  in  my 
studies  with  all  desirable  rapidity.  My  health  is  at  present  tolerable. 
Had  I  not  been  engaged  in  the  University,  I  should  have  paid  you  a 
visit  last  week  ;  as  some  business  in  Massachusetts,  together  with  my 
desire  to  see  you  all,  would  have  warranted  my  taking  the  trip.  But 
it  is  not  so,  and  1  shall  now  probably  not  see  you  until  next  year. 
At  that  time,  Deo  volente,  I  expect  to  enjoy  that  pleasure. 

I  intend  to  return  to  the  Wesleyan  University  at  the  beginning 
of  the  Sophomore  or  Junior  years,  which  will  be  either  next  year 
or  the  year  foUov/ing,  With  the  institution  to  which  I  am  now  at- 
tached I  am  highly  pleased.  Professors,  instruction,  buildings,  and 
all  are  first-rate,  but  then  Dr.  Fisk  is  not  here,  nor  are  the  good 
religious  brethren  whom  I  was  so  highly  delighted  with  at  Middle- 
town.  The  difference  between  the  character  of  the  students  is  truly 
surprising;  and  in  no  particular  is  this  difference  more  strikingly  per- 
ceptible than  in  their  conversation  concerning  their  after  life. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


49 


But  though  our  students  generally  think  nothing  of  religion  or  its 
Author,  still  they  do  not  molest  or  interfere  with  those  who  follow 
Jesus  of  Nazareth.  And  I  hope,  by  the  grace  of  God  aiding  me,  to 
be  enabled  to  "  hold  on  the  even  tenor  of  my  way."  I  hope  that  the 
many  temptations  that  surround  me  may  all  work  together  for  my 
good,  and  that  my  soul  and  body,  time  and  powers,  may  all  be  de- 
voted to  the  service  of  Him  who  created  and  redeemed  me.  The 
follies  of  my  fellow-students  have  thus  far  only  served  to  disgust  me 
with  their  trifling ;  and  their  ideas  of  pleasure  and  enjoyment  have 
therefore  only  deepened  the  impressions  made  upon  my  mind,  that 
"the  ways  of  religion"  alone  "are  ways  of  pleasantness,"  and  that 
"  her  paths  "  alone  "  are  the  paths  of  peace," 

Deeply  sensible  that  I  myself  am  not  what  I  must  be  in  religion,  I 
feel  at  this  time,  more  than  ever,  the  need  of  God's  assisting  grace. 
And  yet  I  am  not  near  as  earnest  in  prayer,  as  constant  and  uniform 
in  devotion,  as  careful  and  watchful  over  my  words  and  actions  as  1 
must  be,  in  order  to  be  able  to  testify  by  my  life,  and  walk,  and  con- 
versation, that  I  have  been  with  Christ  and  learned  of  him.  This 
testimony  I  must  bear  before  my  companions  in  the  University,  for  I 
shall  be  a  poor  witness  for  my  Master,  indeed,  if  they  do  not  find 
it  out. 

Dear  Andrus,  I  wish  you  could  take  the  wings  of  one  of  the  steam- 
boats and  come  to  see  me.    It  does  delight  me  much  to  see  any  one 
from  New  York ;  how  much  would  it,  therefore,  should  you  come 
But  I  must  close. 

Mr.  TiMOTHT  A.  HOWB. 

HI. 

Philadelphia,  Jan.  19, 1833. 

I  am  now  in  possession  of  all  that  I  can  desire  for  the  enjoyment 

of  life :  pursuing  studies  in  which  I  delight  without  interruption,  in 

the  bosom  of  my  own  father's  household  ;  privileged  with  all  means 

of  temporal  and  spiritual  improvement — what  an  account  will  I  have 

to  give  for  the  use  of  all  these  blessings  !    May  God  help  me  to 

devote  all  to  him  and  his  service  !    I  did  anticipate  on  my  entrance 
4 


50 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


into  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  that  my  connexion  with  it  would 
prove  rather  a  clog  to  my  religious  enjoyments  than  an  assistance 
on  the  road  to  heaven.  But  I  now  hope,  through  the  blessing  of 
our  heavenly  Father,  that  the  latter  will  be  the  case  in  an  eminent 
degree.  There  are  among  the  students  about  fifteen  professors  of 
religion,  belonging  to  different  denominations.  Among  these  are 
several  of  ardent,  deep  piety,  and  among  them  all  there  prevails  a 
spirit  of  fellowship  and  unanimity,  with  a  desire  to  promote  the  inter- 
ests of  religion  among  the  students  generally,  that  cannot  fail,  with 
the  blessing  of  Heaven,  of  producing  highly  beneficial  results  both  to 
themselves  and  to  the  institution.  We  hold  a  prayer-meeting  every 
Wednesday  afternoon  after  the  college  hours.  I  had  attended  but 
one  of  these  previously  to  my  illness,  which  was  highly  interesting. 
All  appeared  to  be  resolved  to  do  their  utmost  as  instruments  in  the 
hands  of  God  in  the  promotion  of  a  revival,  and  O  !  that  God  in  his 
infinite  mercy  would  abundantly  prosper  our  humble,  feeble  efforts, 
warm  our  hearts,  and  strengthen  our  hands  to  labor  in  his  cause. 

I  feel  continually,  my  dear  brother,  the  need  of  a  closer  walk  with 
God.  It  is  a  great  mercy,  in  my  opinion,  that  God  does  at  times  show 
us  our  own  depravity  ;  how  far  we  are  from  coming  up  to  the  prop- 
er standard  of  Christian  excellence,  how  exceedingly  weak  is  our 
faith,  and  how  unsteady  our  deportment.  Then  it  is  that  the  soul, 
fully  impressed  with  its  own  utter  weakness  and  inability,  is  induced 
to  fly  for  refuge  and  strength  to  Him  alone  who  can  impart  it,  namely, 
Jesus  Christ  the  righteous.  O  that  you  and  I  may  live  to  grow  in 
him  continually,  who  is  our  living  head  !  May  our  life  and  walk  and 
conversation  show  to  the  followers  of  the  world,  with  whom  we  are 
surrounded,  that  the  religion  which  we  profess  is  not  exhibited  in 
word  only,  but  in  deed  and  in  truth. 

Samuel  A.  Pcedt,  Blackwell's  Islakd 

IV. 

Philadelphia,  Jan.  17, 1883. 
About  first  of  November  I  entered  the  University  of  Pennsylvania 
under  embarrassing  circumstances,  being  far  behind  the  class  in  point 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


51 


of  acquirements,  and  entering  at  a  time  when  tliey  were  reviewing 
what  was  all  unbroken  soil  for  me.  I  have,  therefore,  ever  since  my 
connexion  with  the  University,  been  under  the  necessity  of  laboring 
closely  and  unremittingly  at  my  studies  in  order  to  keep  up  with  the 
class.  At  our  late  examination  I  was  placed  third  upon  the  roll, 
which  was  far  higher  than  I  might  have  expected,  but  which,  never- 
theless, I  may  have  deserved,  as  my  application  has  been  severe. 

I  am  now  just  recovering  from  a  severe  attack  of  the  disease  which 
had  nearly  laid  me  low  at  Middletown,  namely,  inflammation  of  the 
bowels.  From  this,  too,  the  providence  of  God  has  seen  fit  to  deliver 
me,  and  I  am  now  able  to  walk  my  room,  and  have  been  once  down 
stairs.  The  disease  has,  doubtless,  been  owing  to  my  imprudence  in 
study,  bad  hours,  late  going  to  bed  and  late  rising,  with  the  impro- 
prieties in  eating  and  feasting  usually  consequent  upon  the  arrival  of 
Christmas  and  New  Year's  holidays.  Well,  wisdom  is  learned  by 
experience,  and  if  I  do  not  know  how  to  eat,  drink,  and  sleep  here- 
after my  own  be  the  blame. 

I  have  made  many  valuable  acquaintances  in  this  city  since  my  re- 
turn, especially  with  a  number  of  religious  young  men  connected 
with  the  University.  But,  though  they  are  polite,  accomplished,  lit- 
erary, and  pious,  they  do  not,  cannot,  fill  the  place  of  my  circle  of 
friends  in  New  York.  There  was  an  openness,  a  freedom,  fellow- 
ship, if  I  may  so  speak,  among  the  young  men  of  our  acquaintance, 
that  put  me  immediately  at  my  ease  among  them,  and  it  is  prob- 
ably on  this  account  that  I  place  them,  as  it  were,  on  a  summit  in 
my  estimation  which  none  have  yet  reached,  and,  it  seems  to  me, 
never  will.  In  some  of  my  reveries  (you  know  we  are  all  inclined 
to  such)  I  throw  myself  back  to  the  fall  of  1831,  when  the  "  Irving  " 
was  in  its  glory,  {?)  and  when  our  weekly  assemblages  were  held  in 
the  upper  room  of  the  pedagogue's  temple  in  Broadway.  I  fancy  our 
meeting,  our  mutual  greeting,  calling  to  order,  and  all  the  routine  of 
our  multiform  business,  and,  in  fine — I  wish  it  were  all  to  be  "  acted 
o'er  again." 

But  this  is  all  nonsense.  You  are  in  your  goodly  city  of  Gotham, 
busied  in  your  lawful  avocations,  whatever  they  are,  and  I  at  pres- 


52 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


ent  an  invalid  student.  Whether  it  be  worth  our  while  to  trouble 
our  brains  calculating  upon  futurity,  and  endeavoring  to  find  out 
what  we  shall  be  in  this  world,  I  think  is  a  question.  But,  as  to  the 
necessity  of  our  knowledge  of  our  standing  in  reference  to  religious 
matters,  what  we  shall  be  after  we  leave  this  world,  I  think  there  is 
no  question  at  all.  If  we  believe  the  Christian  religion,  and  do  not  so 
live  as  to  secure  the  benefits  promised  in  it  to  the  followers  of  Jesus 
Christ,  what  are  we  ? 

From  my  knowledge  of  your  principles,  my  dear  James,  I  am  en- 
couraged to  suppose  that  you  have  taken  these  things  to  heart,  and 
determined  to  devote  the  spring  time  of  your  days  to  the  service  of 
your  heavenly  Father.  I  feel  determined,  let  my  worldly  pursuits  be 
what  they  may,  to  follow  God  with  full  purpose  of  heart.  And  may 
he  aid  me  in  the  fulfillment  of  my  resolutions  ! 
Believe  me  your  affectionate  friend. 

Ml-.  James  Davis,  N.  Y. 

V. 

Philadelphia,  April  5,  1838. 

Dear  Andrus  : — I  am  pretty  well,  and  trying  to  do  well.  The 
more  I  see  of  the  world  and  the  things  of  it,  the  more  am  I  convinced 
of  the  necessity  of  attending  to  the  concerns  of  eternity,  the  more  am 
I  "delighted  in  the  ways  of  the  Lord."  Yet  still,  though  I  perceive 
the  vanity  of  all  earthly  things,  their  fleeting  and  unsatisfactory  na- 
ture, the  emptiness  of  the  enjoyments  which  they  can  afford,  still 
these  very  "trifles,  light  as  air,"  these  gilded  bubbles,  often,  too  oft- 
en, draw  me  aside  from  the  straight  path  of  duty,  and  occupy  that 
time  and  attention  which  should  only  be  taken  up  in  the  pursuit  of 
less  uncertain  objects.  That  "  as  the  sparks  do  fly  upwards,  so  is  the 
heart  of  man  to  do  evil,"  is  a  true  saying,  no  man  who  has  ever  at- 
tempted to  walk  humbly  before  God  will  deny.  For  myself,  in  ten 
thousand  instances  I  have  exemplified  it  by  my  wandering  from  God 
and  trangressions  of  his  law.  My  hope,  however,  is  still  in  "  God, 
and  my  trust  in  the  rock  of  my  salvation."  To  him  I  can  come  with 
humble  confidence,  inspired  by  the  free  atonement  of  Christ,  and  say, 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


53 


"  Hide  not  thy  face  far  from  me,  put  not  away  thy  servant  in  anger," 
and  he  "whose  faithfulness  reacheth  unto  the  clouds,"  has  provided 
that  "  if  we  ask  any  thing  according  to  his  will,  he  heareth  us."  Are 
not  the  promises  of  God  exceeding  great  and  precious  ?  How  kind 
of  our  kind  Parent  to  grant  us  such  an  assistance,  such  a  guide  as 
these  abundantly  furnish  in  our  earthly  pilgrimage  !  O  that  God 
would  enable  us  both  to  serve  him  with  full  purpose  of  heart  ! 

I  hear  that  James  Floy  preached  in  Forsyth-street  not  long  since. 
If  so  I  am  almost  certain  it  was  good.  He  is  a  young  man  of  prom- 
ise— talent.  I  have  always  thought  he  should  be  a  preacher ;  doubt- 
less he  will  before  a  great  while.  The  Conference  office  appears  to 
act  something  similarly  to  a  mill,  does  it  not  ?  Let  me  see  ;  Creagli, 
Davis,  Floy  ;  who  else  }    More  for  aught  I  know. 

Mr.  T  A.  HowK. 

VI. 

Philadklphia,  Dec.  5,  1S33, 

I  maxle  a  bold  attempt  on  last  Sabbath  week,  but  my  trust  was  not 
in  my  own  arm  nor  in  my  own  ability.-  It  was  an  attempt  to  preach 
on  the  Sabbath  afternoon  in  one  of  our  city  churches.  My  reasons 
were  the  following.  The  preacher  whose  appointment  it  was  had 
asked  me  to  fill  a  small  appointment  on  the  preceding  Sabbath,  which 
I  had  declined  ;  and  on  the  Thursday  following  he  came  to  me  and 
commanded  me  to  fill  the  next  afternoon  appointment.  I,  of  course, 
refused,  but  having  conversed  for  some  time,  I  finally  stated  to  him 
that  it  was  my  desire  to  avo/d  every  thing  which  I  ouo-/i^  not  to  do, 
and  to  perform  every  thing  which  was  my  duty.  I  then  left  it  with 
him  to  decide  whether  or  not  this  was  my  duty.  He  promptly  de- 
cided the  question,  and  accordingly  I  made  the  attempt.  I  was  not 
at  all  embarrassed,  as  I  expected  to  be,  in  a  first  attempt  of  the  kind, 
but  still  I  found  that  what  I  had  prepared  to  speak  would  not  always 
be  ready  when  it  was  needed.  I  spoke,  however,  with  very  little  dif- 
ficulty, for  about  thirty-five  minutes,  and  humbly  pray  that  the  bless- 
ing of  Heaven  may  have  accompanied  my  first  pulpit  labors. 

Mr.  S.  A.  PuRDY. 


54 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


VIL 

rniLADELPiiiA,  March  28,  1834. 

My  dear  Brother:— On  Friday  and  Saturday,  loth  and  nth 
March,  I  was  examined  for  six  hours  on  the  studies  of  the  year  in 
advance,  and  most  happily  succeeded,  so  far,  that  I  had  not  a  single 
"  flunk  ;  "  and  I  was  congratulated  at  the  close  of  the  examination  as 
a  member  of  the  Junior  Class.  You  know  the  feelings  on  such  occa- 
sions— the  joy,  the  lightheartedness — a  feeling  as  if  we  were  never  to 
feel  disappointment  again.  But  ah  !  how  soon  do  we  lose  these 
delightful  feelings  ! 

Well,  think  you  that  I  shall  study  during  vacation  after  all  this  ? 
All  that  remains  is  to  fix  the  time  for  your  visit.  How  will  the  fol- 
lowing do Our  Conference  will  hold  from  Wednesday,  loth  April 
to  i6th,  perhaps,  and  my  second  examination  will  be  held  on  Monday 
and  Tuesday  previous.  The  pleasure  of  your  visit  will  be  greatly 
heightened  can  you  make  it  convenient  to  spend  part  of  the  time 
of  Conference  with  us  ;  which,  you  know,  is  a  sort  of  Methodist 
festival.  You  will  then  see  and  hear  many  of  our  preachers,  mis- 
sionary addresses,  etc.,  etc.,  which,  no  doubt,  will  prove  some  at- 
traction to  you. 

Come,  then,  if  possible,  between  loth  and  13th  April,  and  thus  part 
of  the  time  of  your  stay  will  be  Conference  time ;  and  my  vacation 
will  last  from  loth  April  to  1st  May.  I  hope  that  you  and  I  will  both 
be  in  good  health  and  spirits.  By  the  way,  I  have  suffered  severely 
from  a  pain  in  the  back,  which,  at  present,  troubles  me  much  ;  but  I 
hope  to  be  delivered  from  this  shortly. 

It  appears,  then,  that  I  shall  leave  college  in  July,  1835,  and,  Deo 
volente,  in  April,  1836,  I  shall  join  the  Methodist  traveling  connex- 
ion. You  ask  for  my  experience  in  relation  to  this  all-important 
concern.  If  I  begin  this,  my  letter  will  be  filled  with  myself;  but  it 
may  interest  you  somewhat. 

One  thing  I  may  mention,  that  from  the  earliest  hour  in  which  I 
thought  of  eternal  things,  the  impression  has  rested  upon  my  mind 
that  I  should  one  day  be  called  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  This 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


55 


of  course,  was  but  an  impression,  and  would  never  have  weighed 
with  me  unsupported  by  other  considerations.  The  course  of  life 
pointed  out  for  me  by  my  father  was  the  practice  of  the  law,  and 
with  this  end  in  view  he  commenced  my  classical  education  in  the 
year  1822.  In  1826,  from  various  circumstances,  I  determined  to 
leave  school  for  a  time,  in  order  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  mercantile 
affairs ;  having  in  ultimate  view,  all  the  time,  the  study  of  the  law. 
In  1830  I  left  my  father's  store,  and,  by  appointment  of  the  Book 
Agents,  entered  their  office  as  book-keeper.  At  this  time  I  was  very 
unsettled  in  religion,  and  my  course  of  life  was  altogether  unthought 
of.  You  may  remember  the  great  revival  of  1831,  in  Allen-street, 
in  which  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  bring  me  to  myself,  the  circumstances 
of  which  time  will  never,  never  be  effaced  from  my  mind.  I  bowed 
at  the  altar  several  times,  and  but  little  light  was  afforded  me,  until 
the  call  of  the  Lord  sounded  in  my  ears,  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord 
opened  before  me,  and  it  was  clearly  impressed  upon  my  mind  that 
until  an  entire  devotion  of  my  all  to  God  was  made,  and  that  without 
reservation,  there  was  no  blessing  for  me.  I  pledged  my  soul  to  the 
work  ;  I  obtained  the  light  of  his  countenance ;  my  soul  felt  the  joys 
of  his  salvation. 

Notwithstanding  this  I  have  often  vacillated,  and  in  October  of 
1832  I  was  on  the  point  of  commencing  the  study  of  law  in  this  city. 
The  day  was  fixed  on  which  I  was  to  confer  with  one  of  our  lawyers 
on  the  subject,  my  father  having  already  arranged  the  preliminaries  ; 
but  again  the  call  of  the  Lord  was  not  forgotten,  and  on  the  very  day 
appointed  as  above,  instead  of  waiting  on  the  lawyer,  I  called  on 
Rev.  Professor  Wylie,  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

Yet  I  was  undecided  ;  lofty  prospects  were  unfolded  in  the  world  ; 
my  ambition,  which  has  almost  proved  my  ruin,  prompted  me  ;  and 
I  had  no  obstacles.  But,  to  my  surprise,  I  received  notice  from  the 
preacher  in  charge  (1833)  that  I  was  called  to  the  office  of  an  exhorter 
in  the  Church.    Here,  then,  my  way  first  opened  in  the  Church. 

In  January,  1834,  I  was  (unexpectedly  again)  called  by  the  Quar- 
terly Conference  to  the  office  of  local  preacher  ;  and  the  Lord  blesses 
me  in  my  feeble  efforts.    Here,  then,  dear  brother,  you  have  the  out- 


LIFE  AXD  LETTERS  OF 


lines.  A  volume  would  not  contain  a  record  of  the  struggles  and 
vicissitudes  on  this  subject ;  these  you  must  imagine. 

Mr.  Jamts  Davis. 

VIII. 

New  Gebma>-tow>-,  Hcnteedos  Co.,  X.  J.,  Aug.  4, 1884. 

You  will  perceive  by  the  date  that  I  am  in  a  new  location.  I  am 
here,  as  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  at  the  call  of 
Rev.  J.  J.  Matthias,  presiding  elder  of  East  New  Jersey  District ;  and 
really,  I  am  as  happy  as  the  day  is  long,  I  arrived  on  Friday,  made 
myself  welcome  at  the  house  of  the  Hon.  Judge  Kennedy — from 
which  hospitable  mansion  the  present  epistle  issues,  to  bear  to  you 
the  stor)-  of  my  hopes  and  fears,  my  joys  and  sorrows.  The  life  of  a 
Methodist  preacher  has  many  of  both — truly  a  checkered  career  of 
hopes  and  disappointments.  It  startled  my  bashfulness,  at  first,  to 
know  that  I  must  go,  uninvited  and  unexpected,  to  the  houses  of  in- 
dividuals of  whom  I  had  never  heard  before,  and  make  myself  wel- 
come, whether  in  reality  so  or  not.  It  frightened  me  to  learn  that 
I  must  introduce  myself  to  all,  good  or  bad,  religious  or  irrelig- 
ious;  that  I  must  go  to  their  houses,  talk  with  them,  pray  with 
them,  without  knowing  whether  or  not  it  were  agreeable  to  them- 
selves. And,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  felt  rather  queer  in  approaching  the 
first  house  which  I  entered  in  my  new  character.  I  had  seen  the 
owner  in  Philadelphia  once,  but  the  good  lady  was  altogether  new  to 
me,  and  you  know  that  she  is  the  most  important  half  in  such  a  case. 
But  my  queer  feelings  vanished  when  I  found  myself  received  as  cor- 
dially as  if  I  had  been  the  king  himself,  and  ever)-  effort  exerted  by 
the  whole  family  to  make  me  happy  and  contented.  And  so  it  is 
ever}'-where.  I  go  in,  tell  them  who  I  am  ;  that  I  am  come  to  see 
them,  to  talk  with  them,  to  lodge  with  them  ;  then  all  is  kindness, 
and  friendship,  and  love.  The  whitest  table-cloth  is  spread,  the  corn 
is  plucked  for  the  first  time  this  year,  the  pantry  and  the  milk-house 
are  put  in  requisition  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  preacher,  who,  poor 
fellow,  must  take  of  every  thing  on  the  table  a  superabundant  quan- 
tity or  they  are  not  pleased. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


57 


Many,  many  are  my  joys  and  comforts.  It  is  a  delightful  thing  to 
feel  that  the  affection  of  the  poor  and  the  rich  alike  are  open  to  me  ; 
that  the  houses  of  the  poor  and  the  rich  alike  are  my  home ;  that 
they  follow  me  with  blessings,  receive  me  with  welcome,  and  bear 
me  up  with  prayers.  It  is  delightful  to  be  permitted  to  speak  with 
them  of  the-  goodness  of  God,  to  direct  their  hearts  to  him,  and  to 
offer  up,  on  each  family  altar,  the  tribute  of  praise  and  the  earnest 
petition.  It  is  delightful  to  behold  them  on  the  Sabbath  tripping  in 
youthful  buoyancy  across  the  field,  or  walking  in  the  solemnity  of  age 
upon  the  beaten  pathway,  toward  the  house  of  God.  And  it  is  a  de- 
lightful thing  to  be  permitted  to  lead  their  hearts  in  the  worship  of 
the  divine  Being,  to  elevate  their  thoughts  for  a  season,  at  least,  from 
earth  to  heaven,  and  to  fix  their  minds  upon  the  pure  and  holy  prin- 
ciples of  our  religion.  Would  to  God  that  I  were  better  prepared 
for  the  high  and  holy  office  ;  that  I  had  more  of  the  spirit  of  holiness  ; 
that  I  were  more  deeply  devoted  to  the  work  unto  which,  I  believe, 
he  has  called  me.  I  desire  to  have  no  other  name  on  earth  but  the 
name  of  a  devoted  and  laborious  preacher  of  the  cross  ;  to  have  no 
other  glory  but  the  glory  of  "  saving  souls  from  death  and  turning 
sinners  from  the  error  of  their  way ;  "  to  have  no  other  honor  but 
that  honor  which  descends  from  God. 
Mr.  James  Davis. 

IX. 

Philadelphia,  Feb.  10, 1834. 
I  am,  and  have  been  for  several  days,  very  unwell  indeed,  and  am 
now  in  rather  a  light-headed  and  heavy-limbed  condition,  though,  I 
trust,  in  a  state  of  convalescence.  I  commenced  my  studies  in  the 
University  on  the  Tuesday  after  I  left  you  with  great  glee  and  great 
enthusiasm,  went  on  in  the  course  successfully  until  five  days  ago, 
when  that  was  all  brought  to  nought  by  the  hand  of  sickness.  With 
the  details  of  a  disease  or  its  remedies  I  need  not  trouble  you,  inas- 
much as  you  are  especially  conversant  with  such  matters  ;  nor  need  I 
describe  pathetically  the  distressful  feelings  with  which  I  reflect  upon 
college  and  its  operations,  inasmuch  as  all  this  has  been  done  for  you 
by  our  friend,  C.  H.  L.,  with  whom  I  can  now  sympathize  more  fully 


58 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


and  abundantly  than  ever.  I  may  say,  however,  that  before  many 
days  I  hope  to  be  delivered  from  all  these  sorrows,  and  to  enter 
again  upon  collegiate  duty. 

Have  you  read  the  two  concluding  pieces  of  President  Olin  in  the 
"  Advocate  "  If  you  have  not  I  pray  you  do  so  at  once,  and  let  them 
have  all  their  weight.  It  appears  to  me  that  they  are  true,  and  if  so, 
then  certainly  alarming.  "  Two  thousand  new  ministers  needed  at 
07tce  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  !  " — is  not  this  enough  to 
cause  every  young  man  in  that  Church  who  has  had  any  opportunities 
of  intellectual  improvement  to  look  in  upon  his  heart,  and  to  see 
whether  there  are  not  some  impressions  there  of  the  Holy  Spirit's  in- 
fluence.^ The  views  of  President  Olin  upon  this  point,  namely,  the 
call  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  coincide  with  what 
my  own  have  been  upon  the  subject  for  some  time  past.  I  trust  that 
the  Lord  will  manifest  his  Spirit  fully  unto  you,  that  you  may  be  called 
into  his  vineyard,  and  that  right  speedily. 

Our  Illinois  scheme  advances  but  slowly.  The  calls,  however,  from 
the  West  country  are  still  loud  and  pressing,  and  I  am  by  no  means 
satisfied  but  that  many  of  our  young  men  will  be  called  for  to  go  and 
fight  for  the  truth  in  those  lands  of  beauty.  I  learn  that  one  at  least 
of  our  most  influential  preachers  will  be  transferred  from  the  Phila- 
delphia to  the  Illinois  Conference  in  the  course  of  the  next  year,  and 
I  know  not  how  many  of  the  smaller  fry  have  been  spoken  of  for  the 
Western  Conference,  Well,  if  the  cause  of  God  demand  it  I  have  no 
doubt  they  will  be  ready,  and  I  trust  I  shall,  if  the  duty  be  clearly  laid 
open  before  me.  Of  two  things,  however,  I  must  be  ascertained  (to 
use  an  antiquated  term)  before  I  shall  take  my  determination  :  i.  That 
I  can  be  more  useful ;  2.  That  I  will  not  be  doomed  (as  the  Catho- 
lics) to  perpetual  celibacy,  which  is  no  part  of  my  creed  whatever. 
Di*.  Samuel  A.  Puedt. 

X. 

Philadelphia,  June  13,  1835. 

My  Dear  Friend  : — Our  examination  commences  on  Wednesday, 
24th  instant,  and  will  occupy  four  days,  after  which,  Deovolente,  I  shall 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


59 


take  up  the  line  of  march  for  the  region  round  about  New  York,  when 
I  hope  to  meet  you,  and  all  my  good  friends,  in  peace  and  pleasure. 
I  have  been  thinking  to-day  of  the  "living"  and  its  affairs — wondering 
whether  it  is  prosperous  or  defunct,  whether  the  flame  of  genius  is 
there  glowing,  expanding,  or  dying — extinguished.  O,  I  trust  not ! 
for  I  hope  better  things  from  all  its  members.  Perseverance  must  be 
your  motto  in  this  as  in  every  thing  else.  By  the  way,  writing  the 
word  perseverance  "  mdA^  phrenology  to  rise  up  before  me  in  all  its 
length  and  breadth  and  majesty.  I  have  been  studying  the  sublime 
science  somewhat,  and  have  (by  way  of  experiment,  (i  la  Bacon)  had 
my  own  cranium  examined.  Well,  phrenology  must  be  true,  for  the 
man  gave  7ne  a  fine  head — causality,  comparison,  ideality,  etc.,  in 
abundance.    Are  you  not  convinced  } 

I  must  say,  in  justice  to  the  man  of  phrenology,  that  he  pointed  out 
not  a  few  of  my  foibles  and  weaknesses  in  investigating  the  detri- 
mental part  of  my  character,  or,  rather,  my  caput,  and  I  am  by  no 
means  prepared  to  say  that  phrenology  is  a  humbug,  and  its  profes- 
sors fools  or  impostors.  Combe  reasons  very  prettily,  and  somewhat 
manfully,  too,  and  I  know  not  but  that  he  may  be  in  the  right.  Have 
you  read  the  little  book  in  the  Alexandrian  }    It  is  full  of  beauties. 

Not  the  least  of  my  perplexities  and  troubles  at  this  present  time  is 
my  station  in  Jersey  City.  Sabbath  after  Sabbath  rolls  away  and  I 
am  not  there,  and  my  solicitude  becomes  very  strong  at  times,  I  can 
assure  you.  I  have  written  to  Brother  T.  A.  Howe  to  have  the  ap- 
pointments of  June  21  and  28  filled  for  me.  Will  you  do  me  the  fa- 
vor to  see  him,  and  enforce  the  matter  if  he  has  not  received  my  let- 
ter I  feel  very  anxious  that  all  should  go  right,  as  far  as  possible, 
during  my  absence. 

I  am  looking  forward  as  usual  to  a  year  of  enjoyment.  Though 
I  must  be  in  labors  abundant,  I  hope  to  be  in  joys  much  more 
abundant.  Thrown  once  more  into  the  midst  of  New  York  friends 
and  New  York  associations,  I  shall  almost  retread  those  delightful 
years  which  did 

"  So  wing  their  way  with  pleasure, 
As  bees  fly  home  with  loads  of  treasure." 


6o 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


Is  it  not  best  always  to  look  on  the  bright  side  ?  Surely  it  is,  in  view 
of  enjoyment,  at  least,  in  this  changeful  scene  of  strange  vicissitudes, 
the  better  course  to  think  all  its  changes  improvements,  all  its  vicis- 
situdes varieties  of  plea'sure.  But  there  is  a  better  philosophy  to  be 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  question,  which  tells  us  that  though  "  sorrow 
endures  for  a  night — ^joy  cometh  in  the  morning;  "  which  tells  us  to 
"  rejoice  alway  and  be  glad  in  the  Lord."  Thanking  the  Lord  for  all 
his  benefits  and  all  his  blessings,  let  us  trust  him  for  all  that  is  to 
come  and  all  will  be  well. 

Have  you  ever  read  Coleridge's  "  Friend  "  It  is  a  remarkable  book, 
indeed.  If  you  have  time  get  it  and  peruse  for  yourself.  A  mighty 
mind,  filled  with  all  human  knowledge,  and  offering  itself  and  all  its 
cultivation  upon  the  shrine  of  religion,  is  no  common  sight. 

Remember  me  affectionately  to  all. 

Dr.  S.  A.  PuBDY. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


6l 


CHAPTER  II. 

1835-1839. 

Life  as  Pastor  in  Jersey  City— Letters  to  his  Mother— Compelled  by  111  Health  to  Quit  the 
Pulpit — Appointed  Assistant  and  then  full  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  Dickinson  College — 
History  of  the  College — The  Members  of  the  First  Faculty — Intimacy  with  Robert  Emory 
—Dr.  Durbin's  Fame  as  an  Orator— Daily  Life  of  Professor  M'Clintock  in  his  New  Position 
— Great  Variety  of  his  Studies — Educational  Leaders  of  American  Methodism — Second  Fail- 
ure of  Professor  M"CHntock"s  Health — Passages  from  his  Diary — His  Extensive  Eeading 
while  an  Invalid— Anxiety  to  be  Able  to  Preach  Again— His  Method  as  a  Student— Letters. 

THE  young  minister  being  now  relieved  of  his  bur- 
den of  double  duty,  applied  himself  with  zeal  to 
pastoral  work.  Jersey  City  had  then  a  population  of 
scarce  five  thousand  ;  the  Methodist  Society,  now  known 
as  the  Trinity  in  York-street,  worshipped  in  a  frame 
building  set  up  on  the  meadow.  Mr.  M'Clintock  made 
his  home  with  Jabez  Wakeman,  Esq.,  one  of  the  leaders 
of  Methodism  in  the  city.  His  compensation  was  one 
hundred  dollars  a  year,  which  sum  Avas  technically  known 
as  "  a  single  man's  allowance,"  and  board.  He  preached, 
visited,  studied  with  enthusiasm,  and  was,  to  use  his 
own  language,  as  happy  as  the  day  was  long.  He  gives 
a  very  pretty  picture  of  this  life  in  two  letters  to  his 
mother : — 

Jersey  City,  October  13, 1S35. 

At  half-past  eleven,  on  this  Tuesday  evening,  I  sit  down  to  write 
you  a  letter.  And  if  I  tell  you,  first,  how  much  I  am  engaged,  how 
much  I  am  trying  to  do,  and  what  efforts  I  make  to  accomplish  all 
my  plans,  I  think,  at  least,  that  you  will  not  suppose  me  idle.  In  the 
first  place,  the  basement  of  our  church  takes  all  my  time,  much  of 


62 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


my  anxiety,  and  a  great  deal  of  my  labors  ;  as  money  7nust  be  raised, 
and  there  is  no  one  to  raise  it  but  myself.  I  do  not  despair,  however, 
of  getting  it  entirely  finished  and  ready  for  our  purposes  by  the  first 
of  December.  In  the  next  place,  there  are  sermons  to  be  preached, 
class-meetings  to  be  attended,  prayer-meetings  to  be  kept  up,  sick 
and  poor  to  be  visited,  and  books  to  be  read  and  studied ;  and  all 
this,  without  fee  or  reward,  except  the  poor  hundred  dollars  that  is 
obtained  for  me  with  difficulty  from  those  who  attend  on  my  minis- 
try I  Well,  well,  no  one  can  say  aught  against  the  motives  (at  least 
in  the  money  point  of  view)  of  him  who  enters  upon  the  duties  of  a 
Methodist  traveling  preacher.  Sometimes,  when  I  think  that  I  might 
be  making  money — much  money — perhaps  helping  you  all  instead  of 
being  burdensome,  I  think  of  giving  up  all  and  embarking  in  the 
world  of  adventure  to  seek  my  fortune.  But  when  I  remember  "  the 
kingdom  that  is  not  of  this  world  " — when  I  remember,  that  in  a  very 
few  years  we  shall  all  be  in  the  grave,  and  that  it  will  matter  little 
then  how  our  lives  have  been  spent,  if  they  have  only  been  spent  in 
the  service  of  God  ;  when  I  remember  your  own  advice,  instruction, 
and  counsel  in  religion,  knowing  that  yourself  and  father  would 
rather  see  me  a  preacher  of  Christ,  though  poor  and  unable  to  help 
you,  than  to  see  me  rich  in  this  world's  goods  and  regardless  of  God, 
I  determine  to  continue  in  the  path  in  which  I  have  started,  and, 
by  the  help  of  God,  to  be  a  faithful  minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus  to  my 
life's  end. 

I  find  greater  pleasure  in  the  performance  of  my  religious  and 
pastoral  duties  fiow  than  ever  I  did  before,  greater  comfort  in  study- 
ing the  Scriptures,  and  greater  light  in  understanding  them  ;  and  it  is 
my  chief  desire,  as  it  is  my  principal  effort,  to  be  thoroughly  furnished 
from  the  Scriptures  for  my  Christian  and  professional  life.  Give  love 
to  all.    Your  affectionate  son,  JOHN  M'Clintock,  Jun. 

In  1836  he  was  re-appointed  to  the  station,  and  thus 
describes  to  his  mother  his  entrance  on  the  second  year 
of  his  pastorate  : — 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


63 


Jehsey  City,  Saturday  Evening,  April  23,  1S36. 

I  have  now  been  with  the  people  of  my  parish  some  ten  days  since 
my  return,  and  have  met  with  the  greatest  kindness  and  affection  in 
every  quarter.  I  am  very  comfortably  and  pleasantly  situated  here  ; 
much  more  so  than  I  desen'e,  seeing  that  I  have  as  yet  done  so  little 
good  in  the  world.  Our  prospects  here  for  the  coming  year  are  quite 
flattering,  our  church  will  be  neatly  and  pleasantly  finished,  and  the 
congregations,  I  have  reason  to  think,  will  be  better  than  in  the  past. 
My  greatest  desire  is  that  some  may  be  converted,  so  that  our  little 
society  in  this  place  may  be  strengthened  by  an  accession  of  mem- 
bers, and  the  hands  of  our  men  of  Israel  sustained. 

To-morrow  I  expect  to  preach  in  the  morning  in  Jersey  City,  after- 
noon at  Bergen,  and  night  again  at  Jersey  City ;  on  Monday  night 
is  class-meeting  ;  Tuesday,  trustees'  meeting ;  Wednesday,  Sunday- 
school  meeting ;  Thursday,  prayer-meeting ;  Friday  and  Saturday, 
vacant.  So  you  see  my  evenings  are  pretty  well  taken  up.  Well,  the 
mornings  I  devote  to  study,  the  afternoons  to  visiting  the  flock  ;  thus 
my  time  is  all  apportioned  to  respective  duties,  and,  indeed,  I  find  but 
little  of  it  to  spare  for  other  pleasures  than  those  which  result  from 
the  duties  of  my  office  as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel.  O,  before  I  for- 
get it,  let  me  tell  you  that  I  practice  your  precepts  :  I  eat  no  pie,  no 
cake,  have  given  up  the  habit  of  smoking,  chewing,  and  snuffing. 

And  now  I  must  prepare  my  sermons  for  to-morrow,  so  good 
night,  mother  mine  ;  and  may  the  Lord  bless  thee,  and  preserve  thee 
long  in  life  to  bring  up  the  remainder  of  your  family  (as  you  did  faith- 
fully those  that  have  gone  from  you)  in  the  "  nurture  and  admonition 
of  the  Lord,"  that  they  may  be  prepared  to  live  and  prepared  to  die. 
And  although  I  have  as  yet  done  little  or  nothing  to  repay  you  for  all 
your  kindness  and  affection,  I  hope  that,  in  the  good  providence  of 
God,  I  may  yet  be  able  to  do  something  for  your  comfort.  And  my 
parents,  I  trust,  need  never  be  ashamed  to  own  as  their  son, 

John  M'Clintock,  Jun. 

Soon  after  his  re-appointment  his  health  failed,  and  he 
was  compelled  to  resign.    This  is  his  account  of  it : — 


64 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


Sunday,  Sept.  26,  1S36. 
For  eighteen  months  I  have  been  preaching  the  Gospel,  in  a  weak 
way  indeed,  but  yet  honestly,  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Chiirch  in 
Jersey  City,  New  Jersey.  Since  the  Conference  in  April  last  I  have 
done  but  little,  as  my  health  was  severely  tried  by  the  excessive 
labors  of  the  last  winter.  I  preached  generally  three  times  07i  every 
Sabbath,  and  had  a  meeting  of  some  sort  on  almost  every  night  in 
the  week.  In  April  I  comme7tced  spitting  blood,  which  contijiued 
for  some  weeks,  and  was  finally  thrown  off.  But  from  that  time  to 
this  I  have  hardly  been  without  pain  in  the  breast,  and  uneasiness  in 
the  throat.  My  physicians  tell  me  to  quit  the  post  or  die.  It  is  hard 
work,  but  after  many  weeks  of  effort,  this  day  I  resigned  the  pastoral 
charge  of  my  little  flock  in  Jersey  City.  To-night  the  church  was 
filled  to  overflowing,  and  hardly  a  dry  eye  in  the  house  !  God  help 
them  and  keep  them  !    Amen  !    Amen  ! 

A  visit  to  Saratoga  brought  no  relief.  He  was  com- 
pelled, therefore,  to  look  elsewhere  than  to  the  pulpit 
for  occupation,  and  especially  such  occupation  as  would, 
at  the  same  time,  retain  him  in  the  service  of  the  Church. 
He  did  not  need  to  look  very  far.  He  was,  during  the 
summer  of  this  year,  unanimously  elected  to  the  Pro- 
fessorship of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy  in 
La  Grange  College,  North  Alabama,  of  which  institution 
the  Rev.  Robert  Paine  (now  bishop  in  the  Southern 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church)  was  president.  While  con- 
sidering the  question  of  accepting  the  offer  he  was  nomi- 
nated Assistant  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  Dickinson 
College,  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania.  This  venerable  school 
of  learning  had  suffered  greatly  from  the  fluctuations  of 
fortune.  Founded  in  1783,  through  the  active  exertions 
of  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush  and  other  eminent  citizens  of 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  65 

Pennsylvania,  it  aspired  for  a  time  to  be  a  rival  of  Prince- 
ton. For  a  Presbyterian  school  it  was  fortunately  placed. 
The  Cumberland  Valley  had  been  originally  settled  by 
the  Scotch-Irish,  who  were  sturdy  Calvinists,  and  alto- 
gether a  strong-willed,  indomitable  race.  They  had  been 
in  the  country  districts  supplanted  by  the  pains-taking 
Germans  who  followed  after  them,  but  retained  their  as- 
cendency in  the  large  towns.  Carlisle  was  an  important 
centre  of  Presbyterianism.  Here  Duffield,  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  New  School  organization,  was  pastor  for 
many  years.  Dr.  Nisbet,  the  first  president  of  the  col- 
lege, was  a  splendid  example  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian 
learning,  shrewdness,  and  wit.  Among  his  successors 
was  Dr.  John  M.  Mason,  who  was,  in  his  day,  easily  the 
chief  of  the  Presbyterian  pulpit  in  the  United  States. 
Among  the  Professors  was  M'Clelland,  the  marvellous 
rhetorician,  the  tradition  of  whose  power  in  speech  lin- 
gered in  the  Cumberland  Valley  long  after  his  time. 
Among  its  graduates  were  Bethune,  Krebs,  and  Cham- 
bers, who  have  adorned  their  profession  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  It  was  a  college  in  a  border  town,  that  is, 
it  was  near  the  slave  State  line.  It  is  not,  therefore, 
surprising  that  it  gave  to  the  country  the  honest,  but 
narrow,  Roger  B.  Taney,  and  the  equally  honest,  but 
vacillating,  James  Buchanan. 

Despite  its  advantages,  Dickinson  College,  as  a  Presby- 
terian school,  never  attained  a  stable  prosperity.  With 
entire  good-will  on  the  part  of  its  original  proprietors, 
it  was  conveyed  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the 

members  of  the  old  board  of  trustees  resigning,  one 
0 


66 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


by  one,  and  assisting  cordially  in  electing  the  required 
number  of  successors.  The  transfer  was  honorable  to 
all  parties.  Either  from  the  force  of  habit  or  from  the 
confidence  in  the  liberality  of  the  newly  elected  trustees, 
Presbyterian  as  well  as  Methodist,  students  flocked  to 
the  institution  after  its  re-opening.  Then,  and  ever  after, 
Church  distinctions  were  obliterated  in  every  part  and 
parcel  of  their  college  life — a  rebuke  of  the  folly  which 
separates  the  young  men  of  the  country,  during  the  proc- 
ess of  their  education,  into  petty  groups,  as  though  the 
members  of  one  Christian  community  would  be  certain 
to  contaminate  the  members  of  another. 

The  first  Faculty  of  the  re-organized  Dickinson  was 
well  chosen.  At  its  head  was  the  Rev.  John  P.  Durbin, 
then  in  the  fullness  of  his  power  as  an  orator.  He  suf- 
fers the  rare  disadvantage  of  having  lived  two  lives,  and 
of  having  been  so  eminent  in  each,  that  the  fame  of  the 
one  has  obscured  the  fame  of  the  other.  To  the  present 
generation  of  Methodists  Dr.  Durbin  is  known  as  a  great 
administrator ;  thirty  years  ago  he  was  known  as  one  of 
the  most  extraordinary,  in  the  production  of  popular 
effects,  of  public  speakers.  With  him  were  associated  in 
the  Faculty,  Merritt  Caldwell,  Robert  Emory,  and  Will- 
iam H.  Allen.  They  were  men  who  proved  their  qual- 
ity in  subsequent  life.  Dr.  Allen,  who  filled  the  chair  of 
the  Natural  Sciences,  has  long  been  President  of  Girard 
College,  Philadelphia,  and  has  taken  rank  as  one  of  the 
leading  educators  of  the  country.  Caldwell  and  Emory 
both  died  in  1848,  after  having  attained  distinction,  and 
given  promise  of  a  future  which  was,  alas !  too  soon 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


67 


clouded.  Emory  had  shortly  before  his  election  carried 
off  the  honors  of  Columbia  College,  in  the  city  of  New 
York ;  Caldwell  and  Allen  were  graduates  of  Bowdoin. 

President  Paine  had  offered  to  Mr.  M'Clintock  the 
choice  of  the  Professorship  of  Mathematics,  or  that  of 
Languages,  in  La  Grange  College.  The  latter  was  in 
doubt  which  line  to  take,  but  the  Faculty  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania  urged  him  to  devote  his  life  to 
mathematical  studies.  Of  this  judgment  he  gives  some 
account  in  his  correspondence  with  President  Paine  : — 

Jersey  City,  August  2,  1S36. 

I  have  had  several  communications  with  the  Faculty  of  my  Alma 
Mater,  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  since  the  receipt  of  your  let- 
ter, on  the  subject  of  my  future  course  in  literary  life.  The  strong 
recommendation  of  the  Faculty  (with  the  exception  of  the  Professor 
of  Languages)  was  to  devote  my  whole  efforts  to  mathematical  pur- 
suits, it  having  been  their  opinion  throughout  the  course  of  my  stud  - 
ies that  I  should  succeed  best  in  that  department.  The  Professor 
of  Mathematics,  E.  H.  Courtenay,  (whose  name,  of  course,  is  known 
to  you,)  was  particularly  urgent  in  this  case,  and  seemed  to  think 
that  I  should  deeply  regret  any  other  course  hereafter.  In  reviewing 
my  studies,  and  endeavoring  to  determine  in  regard  to  the  burden 
of  my  future  efforts,  I  have  hesitated  here,  and  finally,  feel  satis- 
fied that  my  course  in  the  matter  shall  be  regulated  by  circum- 
stances. Should  your  institution,  or  any  other,  offer  me  the  mathe- 
matics, or  the  languages,  or  the  department  of  English  literature,  I 
should  accept  either,  and  make  it  the  business  of  my  life.  You  are 
aware  that  I  am  yet  but  a  youth,  and  that,  although  I  have  tasted  of 
the  spring  of  science,  I  have  many  a  deep  and  delicious  draught  be- 
fore me  yet — in  prospect,  at  least. 

The  offer  of  the  Assistant  Professorship  of  Mathe- 
matics in  Dickinson  College  was  finally  accepted,  with 


68 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


the  assurance  of  the  nomination  to  the  full  professorship 
in  case  satisfaction  was  given.  It  is  needless  to  say  that 
satisfaction  was  given,  and  in  July,  1837,  he  was  elected 
full  professor.  Shortly  after  removing  to  Carlisle  he 
was  married  to  Caroline  Augusta  Wakeman,  daughter  of 
Jabez  Wakeman,  Esq.,  of  Jersey  City.  "  She  was  born," 
he  records  in  his  diary,  the  same  day,  in  the  same 
year,  with  myself.  God  bless  the  bonds !  "  The  bonds 
were  blessed.  The  estimable  lady  whom  he  had  chosen 
was  in  full  sympathy  with  him  as  a  student  and  scholar, 
and  animated  and  cheered  him  in  the  prosecution  of  his 
multifarious  tasks.  She  made  his  home  a  rest  to  which 
he  ever  turned  with  joy. 

He  was  now  in  a  position,  of  all  others,  most  conge- 
nial to  his  growing  mind.  His  ambition  was  healthfully 
aroused,  if  that  were  at  all  needed,  for  he  was  on  trial 
for  a  permanent  appointment.  His  associations  satis- 
fied both  his  scholarly  and  Christian  tastes.  He  lived 
with  his  colaborers  of  the  college  Faculty  on  terms  of 
closest  friendship.  Dr.  Durbin,  being  some  years  his 
senior,  and  having  had  large  experience  of  public  life, 
was  a  valuable  counsellor.  With  Robert  Emory,  the 
Professor  of  Ancient  Languages,  he  formed  a  life-long 
intimacy.  Each  was  the  other's  a/ter  ego.  They  were 
alike  and  yet  unlike.  Both  were  affectionate,  buoyant, 
and  full  of  the  inspirations  of  hope.  In  Emory  the 
logical  faculty  predominated  over  all  others,  and  gave  to 
his  mind  a  judicial  exactness;  M'Clintock's  equally  great 
logical  force  was  swayed  by  a  mercurial  temperament 
and  a  lively  fancy.    In  the  acquisition  of  knowledge  the 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  69 

latter  was  ardent,  and  swift  as  the  wind,  but  in  the  eager- 
ness of  the  pursuit  oblivious  of  a  prudent  self-care  ;  his 
associate,  though  equally  ardent,  moved  with  a  more  de- 
liberate step.  Of  the  two,  Robert  Emory  was,  however, 
the  first  to  wear  himself  out ;  he  died,  as  we  shall  here- 
after see,  before  the  promise  of  his  earlier  years  was 
more  than  partly  fulfilled.  Professor  Allen  created  per- 
petual surprises  by  his  great  versatility.  He  passed 
from  department  to  department  with  a  facility  that 
made  one  doubt  which  was  the  one  he  most  preferred. 
Professor  Caldwell's  high  moral  character  impressed  every 
one  who  came  near  him.  New  England  ruggedness  was 
in  him  tempered  by  a  tender  moral  sensibility.  He  be- 
came in  time  the  trusted  adviser  of  the  thoughtful  young 
men  of  the  institution. 

Of  these  professors,  who  made  up  the  first  Faculty  of 
the  College  under  its  Methodist  organization.  Dr.  Durbin 
stood  most  conspicuously  before  the  country.  He  had 
already  achieved  a  national  reputation.  The  announce- 
ment that  he  would  address  an  audience  would,  anywhere 
in  the  United  States,  crowd  the  most  available  place  of 
assembly.  Critics  were  sometimes  puzzled  to  define  the 
secret  of  his  power,  but  when  he  had  once  been  heard, 
conceded  his  power  without  question.  His  opening  of 
a  sermon  was  always  disappointing ;  indeed,  it  might  be 
said  that  he  had  in  the  pulpit  a  twofold  manner,  a  two- 
fold voice,  and  a  double  personality.  Beginning  with 
composure,  his  first  purpose,  as  far  as  he  might  admit 
a  personal  purpose,  seemed  to  be  to  subdue  expecta- 
tion.   In  distinct  but  quiet  tones  he  would  proceed 


70  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

with  the  exposition  of  his  theme.  His  mode  of  treat- 
ment was  ingenious,  sometimes  subtile,  always  striking. 
Before  the  hearer  was  aware  new  thoughts  were  sug- 
gested, or  old  thoughts  had  been  placed  in  fresh  lights. 
Apparently  the  orator  was  holding  an  animated  con- 
versation with  his  hearers,  (for  the  tone  was  wholly  col- 
loquial,) but,  in  reality,  he  was  weaving  a  spell  which  by 
and  by  he  would  use  with  electric  suddenness.  All 
the  time  the  fact  most  obvious  was  his  impassiveness. 
There  he  stood,  calm  as  a  statue,  using  only  explanatory 
gesture  ;  but  for  the  large,  lustrous  eye,  one  might  doubt 
if  he  were  capable  of  strong  emotion.  Unexpectedly  a 
statement  would  kindle  into  an  animated  description, 
and  description  passed  into  glowing  declamation.  The 
long-repressed  torrent  of  sensibility  once  let  loose,  the 
orator  was  transformed.  Voice  became  deep  and  full, 
the  gesture  broad  and  sweeping,  the  eye  flashed  ;  the 
audience,  startled  by  this  assertion  of  power,  yielded  at 
once.  Strong  men  would  lean  forward  and  half  rise 
to  their  feet ;  others  would  sit  entranced,  wholly  oblivi- 
ous of  place  and  time.  When  caught  up  to  the  loftiest 
height  of  feeling  and  thought,  the  voice  would  cease, 
and  the  orator  slowly  resume  his  seat. 

In  all  this  there  was  genius  guided  by  consummate  art, 
but  the  art  was  well  applied.  It  was  conditioned,  more- 
over, by  the  necessities  of  the  speaker  himself,  whose 
slender  frame  would  bear  only  a  certain  degree  of  strain. 
Yet  in  the  very  tempest  of  impassioned  address,  Presi- 
dent Durbin  was  a  marvel  of  grace.  Not  a  movement 
offended  the  eye,  not  a  tone  was  overdone.    The  self- 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  7 1 

possession  so  conspicuous  in  the  earlier  passages  of  the 
discourse  never  deserted  him  ;  to  the  last  sentence  he  was 
master  of  his  powers ;  he  had,  it  would  appear,  placed 
limits  for  himself  that  he  would  never  transcend. 

Unfortunately  for  the  tradition  of  Dr.  Durbin's  elo- 
quence, the  days  of  the  fullest  exercise  of  his  oratorical 
force  were  not  the  days  of  reporters.  Passages  from  his 
sermons  which  might  serve  as  life-like  descriptions  have 
wholly  perished.  It  was  a  time,  too,  in  the  history  of 
our  country,  when  oratory  was  rated  higher  than  it  is 
now.  Without  doubt  a  reading  people  grows  insensibly 
more  critical,  less  susceptible  to  the  onsets  of  emotional 
excitement,  and  more  suspicious  of  those  arts  which 
make  oral  address  effective.  If  eloquence  is  a  joint  re- 
sult to  which  speaker  and  hearer  both  contribute,  we  can 
plainly  see  that  the  hearer  of  to-day  does  not  contribute 
as  much  as  the  hearer  of  thirty  years  ago.  The  change 
is  as  perceptible  in  the  British  Parliament  as  in  the 
United  States  Congress.  Plain,  business-like  statement 
has  superseded  rhetoric,  and  close  attention  to  statistics, 
emotional  appeal.  Durbin,  Bascom,  and  Maffitt  formed, 
in  the  period  between  1826  and  1840,  a  trio  of  Chris- 
tian orators  who  were  the  wonder  and  admiration  of  the 
masses  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  country. 
Maffitt's  preaching  was  so  extraordinary,  that  in  some 
towns  of  the  South-west  business  would  be  almost  wholly 
suspended  during  the  period  of  his  stay.  Of  the  three. 
Dr.  Durbin's  method  will  alone,  I  think,  bear  the  scrutiny 
of  exact  criticism.  Simple,  lucid  English,  a  voice  pitched 
in  the  conversational  key,  and  emotion  which,  if  strong, 


72  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

was  always  just,  were  the  constituents  of  his  eloquence, 
and  with  these  the  sternest  criticism  can  find  no  fault. 

These  persuasive  orators  had  one  advantage,  which  has 
unfortunately  been,  in  our  time,  almost  wholly  surren- 
dered. They  proclaimed  the  divine  justice  as  well  as  the 
divine  compassion.  No  timidity,  no  sentimentalism,  with- 
held them  from  depicting  the  terrors  of  the  final  judg- 
ment of  the  human  race.  They  dealt  with  the  future 
accountability  of  men  as  a  reality,  and  brought  it  home 
to  the  consciousness  of  every  hearer.  The  habit,  com- 
mon in  our  day,  of  avoiding  whatever  goes  beyond  the 
faintest  reference  to  these  themes,  was  unknown  to  the 
great  preachers  of  that  generation.  They  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  treat  them  dramatically,  and  in  such  treatment 
to  use  all  the  resources  of  their  art.  Nor  was  this  a 
peculiarity  of  the  Methodist  pulpit  only;  in  the  explica- 
tion of  the  judgment  and  the  separation  of  the  just  from 
the  unjust,  Lyman  Beecher  was  as  energetic  as  John  P. 
Durbin,  and  both  could  appeal,  for  authority,  to  the  ex- 
ample of  the  old  English  divines. 

With  such  happy  surroundings.  Professor  M'Clintock 
entered  on  his  new  life  most  cheerfully,  as  will  be  seen 
from  his  letters  to  his  sister : — 

DiCKESsos  College,  Carlisle,  October  15,  1386. 

I  have  enough  to  write  about  to  fill  this  sheet  and  more,  but  there 
is  not  time  enough  in  the  world  to  do  every  thing.  Still,  I  am  glad 
to  have  the  opportunity,  on  this  Saturday  evening,  to  spend  a  por- 
tion of  my  time  in  writing  to  my  dear  sister.  You  know  from  my 
letter  to  father  that  I  arrived  here  safely,  and  was  in  good  health  ;  I 
am  glad  to  add,  that  since  I  wrote  my  health  has  been  much  better 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


73 


than  usual ;  that  my  duties,  though  sufficiently  laborious,  have  not 
been  too  much  for  me  ;  and  that  I  get  through  them  all  with  comfort 
to  myself,  and  satisfaction,  I  hope  at  least,  to  those  around  me.  The 
regularity  of  our  college  life  will  be  very  serviceable  to  my  health  ; 
at  least,  I  think  so.  The  order  is  as  follows :— First  bell,  half  past 
five  A.  M. ;  prayers,  six  A.  M. — breakfast  immediately  after  prayers  ; 
recitations,  nine,  ten,  eleven,  or  nine,  ten  A.  M.  and  four  P.  M.,  or 
ten,  eleven  A.  M.,  and  four  P.  M.,  never  exceeding  three  recitations 
a  day.  The  students  generally  are  moral,  studious,  and  well-be- 
haved, and  many  of  them  are  pious.  Evening  prayers  at  five  P.  M.— 
tea  immediately  after  prayer.  Last  bell,  nine  P:  M.  Thus  the  bells 
are : — First,  half  past  five  A.  M. ;  second,  six  A.  M. ;  third,  eight 
A.  M. ;  fourth,  nine  A.  M. ;  fifth,  ten  A.  M. ;  sixth,  eleven  A.  M. ; 
seventh,  twelve  M.  (dinner)  ;  eighth,  two  P.  M. ;  ninth,  three  P.  M. ; 
tenth,  four  P.  M. ;  and  five,  seven,  eight,  and  nine  P.  M. 

On  Sabbath,  after  breakfast,  two  classes  meet  at  eight  o'clock ; 
preaching,  eleven  ;  dinner,  half  past  twelve  ;  Bible  class,  (which  I 
shall  visit,)  three ;  preaching,  half  past  six,  as  usual.  On  Tuesday 
evening  we  have  a  social  meeting  for  literary  conversation,  etc.  On 
Wednesday,  Faculty  meeting  ;  Thursday,  preaching  ;  Friday,  prayer- 
meeting  ;  Saturday,  debate ;  so  that  days  and  evenings  are  pretty 
well  filled  up.  I  had  written  as  far  as  the  last  sentence  last  evening, 
when  I  was  called  to  the  society  for  debate,  so  that  I  must  either  fin- 
ish this  on  Sunday  morning,  or  suffer  it  to  go  unfinished  for  a  time. 
Surely  there  can  be  no  harm  in  my  writing  a  letter  to  you,  even 
though  it  be  on  the  Sabbath  day. 

Of  his  election  to  the  permanent  occupancy  of  the 
chair  which  he  was  fiUing  provisionally  none  who  knew 
him  had  any  doubt.  Quick  in  perception,  clear  in  state- 
ment, and  broad  in  his  generalizations,  he  was  the  ideal 
of  a  brilliant  professor.  Being  absent  from  college  for  a 
year,  I  did  not  meet  with  Professor  M'Clintock  until  the 


74  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

fall  of  1837.  He  had  then  established  for  himself  a  fine 
reputation,  and  his  manner  had  all  the  confidence  of 
success.  The  dullest  student  felt  the  contagion  of  his 
enthusiasm.  The  apter  young  men  were  encouraged  to 
make  explorations  in  mathematical  science  beyond  the 
limits  of  their  text-books.  Lectures  on  the  history  of 
mathematics  exhibited  its  growth  and  connexions.  Every 
day's  contact  with  our  fresh  and  radiant  professor  gave 
us  a  new  impulse. 

If  any  of  the  young  men  who  came  before  him  were 
indulging  in  dreams  of  what  they  could  accomplish  by 
the  force  of  genius,  a  few  days  of  contact  with  him  effect- 
ually knocked  the  nonsense  out  of  them.  The  gospel 
which  he  incessantly  proclaimed  was  the  gospel  of  labor. 
Nothing  to  be  won  without  honest  work  was  the  one 
maxim  which  he  would  not  suffer  to  be  forgotten  for  a 
moment.  As  he  taught  he  practiced.  The  one  fact 
most  visible  in  his  life  was  its  strenuous  devotion  to 
culture.  The  lamp  in  his  study  was,  of  the  many  lighted 
in  the  evening,  the  last  to  be  put  out.  Away  into  the 
small  hours  it  still  burned.  It  burned  too  long  for  his 
own  good,  but  he  came  before  us  each  morning  fresh 
and  elastic,  till  the  prostration,  which  before  long  over- 
took him,  suspended  the  performance  of  his  duties. 

This  union  of  brilliance  with  laboriousness  made  Pro- 
fessor M'Clintock  the  most  wholesome  of  teachers.  He 
was  not  a  plodder,  yet  no  plodder  could  be  more  pains- 
taking. It  mattered  little  what  was  in  hand,  if  done  at 
all  it  was  to  be  done  well.  Whatever  was  to  be  known 
must  be  known  to  the  bottom.   A  sound  discretion,  how- 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  75 

ever,  insured  him  against  being  lost  in  details.  His  logi- 
cal habit  of  mind  brought  all  particulars  into  close 
subordination.  His  ambition  was  as  large  as  his  powers. 
He  could  say  without  presumption  that  he  had  "  taken 
all  knowledge  for  his  portion,"  and  he  needed  only  nerves 
of  steel  and  a  frame  incapable  of  exhaustion  to  secure  full 
possession.  While  teaching  college  students  mathemat- 
ics his  own  studies  spread  out  in  all  directions.  Though 
with  a  good  appetite  for  all  learning,  he  had  a  choice. 
To  physics  he  seemed  somewhat  indifferent ;  but  lan- 
guages, logic,  metaphysics,  and  theology,  with  history, 
poetry,  and  belles-lettres,  had  for  him  charms  which  he 
never  wished  to  resist.  The  old  problems  of  the  validity 
and  the  limitations  of  human  knowledge  were  an  endless 
fascination  to  him.  From  the  beginning  he  had  had  no 
intention  of  being  a  mere  mathematician.  Indeed,  he 
expressed  repeatedly  to  his  friends  his  dread  of  the 
narrowing  effect  of  exclusive  devotion  to  mathematical 
study.  He  planned  early  a  broad  range  of  intellectual 
pursuits,  and  adhered  to  his  plan  with  fidelity. 

The  opportunity  enjoyed  by  himself  and  his  associ- 
ates was  very  fortunate,  but  they  proved  equal  to  it. 
Methodism  originated  in  a  university ;  its  leaders  were 
scholarly  clergymen  of  the  Church  of  England  ;  but  the 
necessities  of  his  position  compelled  John  Wesley  to 
commit  it,  after  his  death,  to  the  care  of  imperfectly 
educated  successors.  The  scholars  who  should  have 
aided  him  held  aloof.  They  were  scandalized  by  lay 
preachers  and  field  preaching;  they  forgot  that  Wesley 
set  laymen  to  work  because  he  could  find  few  clerical 


76  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

helpers,  and  that  he  betook  himself  to  the  fields  only 
when  he  was  driven  from  the  churches.  In  the  Ameri- 
can colonies  the  clergymen  of  the  Established  Church 
had  little  or  no  connexion  with  Methodism,  and  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the  War  of  Independence  numbers  of 
them  returned  to  England.  Plain,  self-educated  men, 
with  a  few  exceptions,  laid  the  foundations  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  They  were  vigorous  and  force- 
ful preachers,  thoroughly  understood  the  doctrines  which 
they  handled,  and  led  by  one  of  the  greatest  of  ecclesi- 
astical generals.  Bishop  Asbury,  had  penetrated  all  ac- 
cessible parts  of  the  States  and  Canada.  Thrown  into 
antagonism  with  the  theological  culture  of  their  time, 
they  fought  a  hard,  and,  in  the  end,  victorious  battle.  If 
their  opposers  were  better  versed  in  books,  they  were 
more  skilled  in  human  nature,  and  had,  by  a  species  of 
intuition,  grasped  the  art  of  preaching.  From  the  habit 
of  opposing  educated  men,  many  came  to  oppose  edu- 
cation itself.  The  failure  of  the  first  attempts  to  found 
institutions  of  learning,  was,  for  a  time,  interpreted  as 
a  providential  interposition,  forbidding  further  experi- 
ments. The  splendid  examples  of  self-education  in 
English  Methodism — Walsh,  Clarke,  and  Watson — were 
held  up  for  imitation,  and,  no  doubt,  inspired  the  most 
prodigious  exertions.  As  a  matter  of  course,  this  abne- 
gation of  the  helps  which  the  experience  of  ages  has 
provided  for  the  training  of  the  human  mind  could  only 
last  for  a  time.  The  necessities  of  a  growing  Church 
compelled  the  provision  of  a  suitable  educational  appa- 
ratus.   It  is  curious  to  observe  with  what  caution  the 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  77 

first  measures  were  taken;  what  care  was  used  to  speci- 
fy that  learning  must  be  duly  "sanctified,"  what  misgiv- 
ings were  felt  lest  the  educated  men  should  disdain  the 
humble  labors  of  the  itinerant  service.  It  was  considered 
an  important  point  of  administration  that  they  should 
be  "well  broken  in,"  if  needful,  by  sending  them  to  hard 
work  on  scant  fare  in  wild  regions.  The  schools  had 
fought  the  Methodist  ministry  so  long,  that  these  same 
ministers  had  no  little  dread  of  the  schools,  even  when 
founded  and  fashioned  by  themselves. 

Leaders  were,  however,  not  wanting  at  this  critical 
juncture,  and  among  them  Drs.  Wilbur  Fisk,  John 
Emory,  and  John  P.  Durbin,  must  always  be  conspicu- 
ous. They,  with  a  few  others,  may  be  said  to  have  be- 
gun the  second,  or  educational,  era  of  the  development 
of  American  Methodism.  Dr.  Fisk's  name  will  be  forever 
identified  with  the  founding  of  the  Wesleyan  University 
at  Middletown  ;  Bishop  Emory  was  the  first  President  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Dickinson,  and  negotiated  its 
transfer  from  the  Presbyterians ;  Dr.  Durbin  had  been 
a  professor  in  Augusta  College,  Kentucky,  and  was  one 
of  the  earliest  advocates  of  thorough  theological  culture. 
Their  authority  gave  weight,  their  eloquence  persuaded, 
and  the  Church,  with  such  guides,  entered  courageously 
on  its  new  path. 

The  members  of  the  first  Faculty  of  Dickinson  Col- 
lege had,  therefore,  all  the  advantages  of  a  fine  position. 
They  did  not  need  to  build  on  other  men's  foundations, 
but  could  lay  their  own.  No  great  reputations  over- 
shadowed them.    They  could  create  according  to  their 


78  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

own  ideal,  and  had  room  and  verge  enough  to  work 
freely.  Looking  back,  I  can  see  more  plainly  than  was 
possible  then,  that  the  opportunity  was  to  them  all  a 
powerful  inspiration.  Young,  eager,  and  in  every  sense 
strong,  they  wrought  in  harmony,  side  by  side,  and  with 
a  sense  of  ever-increasing  power.  They  did  not  perceive 
that  the  goal  which  they  sought  was  farther  off  than 
they  believed.  They  were  not  conscious  how  much  in  ad- 
vance they  were  of  the  great  body  of  practical  men  from 
whom,  in  the  last  resort,  the  nourishment  of  all  impor- 
tant American  institutions  must  be  derived.  What  they 
built,  however,  stands  and  will  stand  ;  and  not  the  least, 
they  built  themselves  up  to  a  power  which  American 
society  has  felt  beneficially  in  every  direction. 

The  young  men  trained  by  this  first  Faculty  of  Dick- 
inson and  their  immediate  successors  have  given  a 
good  account  of  themselves.  In  the  State,  Creswell  and 
Marshall ;  in  science,  Baird  ;  in  Church  administration. 
Bishop  Bowman,  of  our  own,  and  Bishop  Cummins,  of 
the  Reformed  Episcopal  Church  ;  in  the  pulpit,  Thomas 
Verner  Moore,  Deems,  Ridgaway,  and  Tiffany;  in  liter- 
ature, Conway  (who  has  left  his  early  faith,  but  retains 
all  his  early  love  for  the  men  under  whom  he  was 
trained)  and  Hurst;  in  foreign  missions,  Maclay;  are 
examples  of  the  fruitfulness  of  their  educational  work. 

The  following  letters  reveal  the  joyousness  of  Pro- 
fessor M'Clintock's  life  during  this  period.  The  first  is 
to  his  wife's  father  : — 

I  have  no  complaints  to  make.  Our  life  goes  on  at  present  in  a 
smooth,  contented  round  of  healthful  occupations  and  rational  enjoy- 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


79 


ments.  These  are  the  bright  days  for  us  ;  how  long  they  may  con- 
tinue I  cannot  say.  But  we  try  to  lay  up  our  treasure  "  where  moth 
and  rust  cannot  corrupt,"  Perhaps  there  is  not  much  self-denial  in 
this,  for  we  have  very  little  chance  of  laying  up  treasures  anywhere 
else.  But  we  are  well  off,  as  we  calculate  to  come  out  clear  of  all 
encumbrances  at  the  end  of  this  year,  if  Providence  favors  our  little 
enterprises.  College  is  prosperous,  at  least  as  far  as  its  internal 
movements  and  management  are  concerned.  Many  matters  without 
look  rather  squally,  but  we  hope  for  the  best. 

In  a  letter  to  his  wife's  brother,  Mr.  E.  B.  Wakeman, 
he  expresses  an  intention  which  he  never  carried  out : — • 

I  am  pretty  well  occupied,  but  think,  sometimes,  of  commencing 
law  this  fall.  I  could  connect  it  advantageously  with  my  other 
studies,  and  be  ready  for  the  bar  in  two  years — of  course,  not  with 
any  view  to  practice,  but  merely  to  know  a  little  of  every  thing  that 
goes  on  in  this  wicked  world. 

He  had  scarce  completed  his  second  year  as  professor 
when  his  health  gave  way.  This  was  the  first  of  a  series 
of  distressing  bodily  affections  which  troubled  him,  and 
at  times  wholly  disabled  him.  Uniform  good  health  he 
never  enjoyed.  Periods  of  prodigious  activity  would  be 
followed  by  periods  of  enforced  abstinence  from  all  seri- 
ous work.  This  first  attack  was  a  constriction  and  in- 
flammation of  the  oesophagus,  which  made  it  impossible 
for  him  to  swallow  solid  food.  It  was  treated  with 
caustic,  and  the  treatment  subjected  him  almost  to  the 
tortures  of  a  long  martyrdom.  Ten  years  after  this, 
Dr.  M'Clintock  supposed  himself  to  be  subject  to  heart 
disease,  and  lived  under  a  constant  apprehension  of  sud- 
den death.    Frequent  attacks  of  swooning  gave  plausi- 


8o 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


bility  to  his  fears.  He  was,  to  use  a  common  phrase, 
''easily  upset;"  some  part  of  the  bodily  machinery  was 
ready  to  give  way,  compelHng  him  to  lie  by  for  repairs. 
I  mention  these  facts  because  they  help  to  explain  his 
life.  The  suspension  of  exertion  which  sometimes  puz- 
zled those  who  knew  him  but  slightly,  the  unrest  which 
showed  itself  in  a  desire  of  frequent  change,  were  but 
symptoms  of  unsatisfactory  health.  That  he  held  him- 
self so  firmly  to  his  work  as  he  did,  is  the  best  evidence 
we  have  of  the  tenacity  of  his  determination  to  do  the  ut- 
most possible  with  himself  as  long  as  his  strength  lasted. 

His  diary  furnishes  the  best  picture  extant  of  his  life 
at  this  period.  It  is  a  narrative  of  his  reading,  studies, 
hopes,  and  fears,  enlivened  by  acutest  criticisms  of  books 
and  men.  He  was  now  but  twenty-four  years  of  age, 
yet  looked  with  clear  eyes  upon  the  world  before  him. 
He  would  not  suffer  his  understanding  to  be  imposed 
upon,  but  saw  and  judged  for  himself.  Most  noticeable, 
too,  is  the  ardor  of  his  pursuit  of  knowledge  while  pros- 
trated by  disease.  He  would  read  in  every  direction,  no 
matter  what  the  penalty.  The  unconscious  self-revela- 
tion which  appears  in  the  passages  here  appended  will 
be,  I  trust,  a  sufficient  justification  of  the  freedom  with 
which  the  diary  is  quoted  : — 

Oct,  13,  1838.  For  two  months  past  I  have  labored  under  a  dis- 
tressing affection  of  the  throat.  My  professorship  at  Carlisle  is  neg- 
lected, and  I  am  now  in  Philadelphia,  under  medical  treatment.  For 
weeks  I  have  been  unable  to  swallow  any  thing  thicker  than  milk, 
and  even  that  sometimes  with  difficulty.  I  know  also  what  nervous 
disorders  are,  for  the  first  time  in  my  life. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


8l 


Tues.,  Dec.  i8,  1838.  My  throat  is  somewhat  better:  can  swallow 
milk  or  soup  thickened  with  a  little  flour.  For  four  months  now  have 
I  been  comparatively  idle,  and  useless  either  to  myself  or  others  ;  and 
have  found  it  hard  to  discipline  my  mind  to  submission  to  divine 
Providence.  But  I  begin  to  feel  resigned,  to  acknowledge  His  hand, 
and  to  hope  that  even  this  sore  affliction  will  work  out  good  for  me 
both  in  this  life  and  in  that  which  is  to  come.  I  have  spent  the  time 
in  Philadelphia  for  the  sake  of  medical  advice,  and  have  found  every 
comfort  in  my  father's  house — cheered  also  by  the  presence  of  my 
dear  v^fe  and  little  one.  My  child,  Sarah  Augusta,  was  bom  Mon- 
day, September  10,  and  is  now  a  sweet  babe.    God  preserve  her ! 

Wed.,  Jan.  2,  1839.  Have  entered  upon  a  new  year.  God  has 
lengthened  my  life,  though  I  feel  that  I  hold  it  by  a  very  feeble  ten- 
ure. My  mind  is  quite  unsettled.  I  cannot  meditate  closely  upon 
religious  themes ;  but  my  confidence  in  God's  love,  through  Jesus 
Christ,  is  unshaken,  nay,  increasing.  My  nerves  are  in  a  wretched 
condition — all  unstrung,  so  that  thought,  to  any  great  extent,  is  im- 
possible.   If  it  be  thy  will,  O  Lord,  grant  me  relief! 

Read  part  of  the  Life  of  Girard,  the  rich  banker  of  Philadelphia. 
A  great  mind — devoted  to  wealth — forgetful  of  eternity  ! 

Jan.  3,  1839.  Read  the  Epistle  to  the  Philippians — always  a  faith- 
ful people.  Paul  had  no  censures  for  them.  Read  Byron's  Journals 
and  part  of  Don  Juan.  A  wicked  man,  yet  with  some  good  features. 
His  works  cannot  live — no  elements  of  durability,  of  immortality, 
about  them.  He  and  Moore  have  much  to  answer  for,  in  the  cor- 
ruption of  morals  which  they  have  poured  like  a  flood  upon  young 
minds.  How  diff"erent  from  Wordsworth  and  Coleridge,  diff'using 
streams  of  pure,  beautiful  morality  and  deep  thought  upon  the  world. 

Szm.,  Jan.  6.  Read  First  Epistle  to  Timothy,  and  perplexed  my- 
self for  some  time  with  chapter  v,  24.  The  only  meaning  which  I 
can  attach  to  the  passage  is  this  :  Paul  contrasts  open,  daring  sin- 
ners with  hypocrites  ;  some  men  are  so  desperately  wicked  that  the 
odor,  as  it  were,  of  their  iniquities  precedes  them.  How  fertile  of 
precept  and  wisdom  for  the  Christian  preacher  are  these  epistles  to 
Timothy — sound,  practical  wisdom  too — such  as  will  carry  a  man 
6 


82 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


safely  through  all  difficulties,  in  the  Church  and  out  of  it,  if  faith- 
fully followed.  Paul  was  not  imprudent ,  and  he  deprecates  rash- 
ness and  imprudence  in  others.  Would  that  some  of  our  hasty 
spirits,  that  embroil  Church  and  State  with  their  crude  notions  and 
ill-digested  theories,  would  imbibe  somewhat  more  of  his  practical 
good  sense — his  careful,  religious  prudence.  Read  a  project  in  the 
"  Christian  Advocate  "  for  a  celebration  of  the  Centenary  of  Meth- 
odism— which  had  its  birth  in  1739 — funds  to  be  collected  and  applied 
to  building  Mission  Houses  in  New  York.  I  don't  like  the  plan — 
there  is  not  enough  economy  in  the  management  of  our  religious 
funds.  Read  Second  Timothy,  Titus,  and  Philemon ;  the  same  spirit 
and  n^eaning  in  all  Paul's  writings — authority  mingled  with  love. 
I  have  not  heard  a  sermon  since  last  September. 

Mon.,  Jan.  14.  Read  in  Coleridge's  "  Friend  "  his  essay  on  Method, 
the  object  of  which  is  to  prove  the  superiority  of  laiv  to  theory,  as  a 
basis  for  method.  A  ver>^  profound  yet  luminous  essay.  Read  part 
of  the  Appendix  to  Cousin's  "  Psychology."  Low-spirited  and  nerv- 
ous to-day.  I  suppose  I  may  be  truly  called  a  hypochondriac — a 
name  and  condition  that  I  have  feared  almost  as  much  as  that  of 
maniac.  Read  the  last  chapter  in  Taylor's  "Physical  Theory  ' — a 
ver>-  attractive  book.  The  germ  of  it  may  be  found,  I  think,  in  Cole- 
ridge's "  Letters  and  Recollections."  Poor  nerves  of  mine,  what 
could  have  shattered  them  so  ! 

Tues.,  Jan.  15.  Read  in  Walter  Scott's  Life  the  account  of  his 
misfortunes  and  his  fortitude  under  them  all.  Walter  Scott  was  not 
a  rergi3us  man — little  thought  of  a  future  life,  I  should  judge  from 
his  writings  and  his  biography.  Read  Second  Epistle  of  Peter  ;  mind 
not  sufficiently  concentrated  to  understand  it  completely.  Went  on 
with  Walter  Scott ;  he  was  weak  enough  in  some  points.  What  a 
contrast — Scott  and  Wordsworth  !  Scott  would  have  fought  with 
Gourgaud  ;  he  was  superstitious,  vain,  mind  full  of  world  and  world's 
thoughts ;  selfish,  I  think,  to  an  extreme ;  but,  strangely  enough, 
generous  withal.  I  would  not  do  him  injustice ;  he  has  beguiled 
many  a  weary  hour.  But  why  should  there  be  a7iy  wear}-  hours } 
Surely  there  are  sources  enough  of  enjoyment,  without  such  floods 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  83 

of  paltry  fiction  as  have'  been  thrown  upon  the  world  since  Scott 
began  to  write  novels.  Read  in  Grecian  history  the  rise  of  Thebes  ; 
battles  of  Leuctra  and  Mantinea ;  up  to  the  deaths  of  Pelopidas  and 
Epaminondas.  N.  B.  I  don't  believe  the  stories  of  Spartans  rejoic- 
ing that  their  friends  were  slain  in  battle,  and  mourning  over  those 
that  returned  as  disgraced.  Spartans  were  men — their  nature  was 
human  nature. 

Thiirs.,  Jan,  17.  Rose  at  eight;  delightful  sleep  last  night;  feel 
pretty  bright  this  morning.  Read  Cooper's  Review  of  "  Lockhart's 
Life  of  Scott."  Poor  enough,  in  all  conscience ;  though  not  quite  so 
unjust  as  some  affect  to  think  it.  Read  also  a  "  Reply"  to  the  same 
in  the  "  Knickerbocker,"  and  if  the  article  itself  was  vapor,  the  reply 
is  double  distilled  gas — it  is  just  naetking  at  all.  I  said,  a  few  days 
ago,  that  Scott  was  destitute  of  religion.  I  recall  it ;  for  first,  1  should 
not  say  such  a  thing  of  any  man  ;  and  second,  I  have  since  read  Lock- 
hart's  account  of  his  decline  and  death,  and  it  has  changed  my  views 
of  the  man  considerably.  At  all  events,  it  brought  tears  to  my  eyes, 
opening  a  fresh  well-spring  of  love  in  my  heart.  But,  after  all,  how  far 
are  such  men,  nay,  how  far  are  any  men,  from  the  scriptural  stand- 
ard of  a  religious  life  !  I  know  my  own  deficiencies,  others  know 
some  of  them,  but  I  know  myself  better  than  any  man  can,  and  I 
know  that  I  am  very  far  from  being  the  pure,  devoted  Christian  of 
the  New  Testament. 

I  am  not  bigot  enough  to  suppose  that  there  are  no  good  men  out 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  but  I  think  her  the  best  of  modern  Churches, 
both  as  to  her  ecclesiastical  polity,  her  usefulness  to  the  world,  and  the 
general  purity  of  her  clergy  and  laity.  I  know,  too,  that  the  Meth- 
odist ministry  affords  few  inducements  to  worldly,  ambitious  spirits ; 
but,  with  all  this,  I  have  found  the  same  petty  jealousies,  the  same 
pursuit  of  individual  aims,  the  same  lust  of  power,  the  same  envy  of 
superior  talents,  among  Methodist  preachers,  that  I  should  have  ex- 
pected to  find  among  "the  potsherds  of  the  earth."  Where  then, 
alas  !  shall  I  look  for  purity  ?  Into  my  own  heart  ?  Eheu  !  what  a 
den  of  thieves  has  that  heart  been  !  .  .  ,  There  is  too  much  prescrip- 
tion in  the  Methodist  Church,  and  there  is  too  much  proscription  for 


84 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


individual  opinions.  A  man  can  hardly  be  independent  with  any  hope 
of  rising  in  the  Church.  This  state  of  things  causes  a  mean,  truckling 
spirit  to  grow  up  among  the  young  men,  which,  in  a  great  degree, 
renders  them  intellectual  slaves  to  a  few  not  very  intellectual  masters. 
This  has  always  been  the  fault  of  the  Church — I  mean  of  the  univer- 
sal Church — it  is  not  as  it  should  be,  it  is  not  in  accordance  with  the 
laws  of  Christianity.  "The  spirit  of  power,  and  of  love,  and  of  a 
sound  mind,"  is  incompatible  with  this  sort  of  mental  bondage;  and, 
sooner  or  later,  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  will  pay  the  penalty 
of  her  encroachments  upon  the  absolute  freedom  of  the  individual 
mind,  by  storms  and  contentions,  if  not  by  her  entire  disorganiza- 
tion and  dissolution,  unless  a  wiser  policy  shall  be  struck  out  by  her 
leaders  and  pursued  in  her  government. 

This  criticism  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is 
very  plain  and  pointed,  but  is  descriptive  of  all  human 
organizations,  secular  or  ecclesiastical.  The  problem  of 
the  harmony  of  authority  and  liberty  is  as  old  as  human 
nature,  and  has  never  been  perfectly  solved.  A  system 
so  centralized  as  that  of  Episcopal  Methodism  tends  to 
a  severe  restriction  of  the  play  of  individualism.  By  a 
spontaneous  instinct  it  seeks  to  form  instruments,  and  is 
fearful  of  deviations  from  its  one  method.  The  history 
of  the  organization  shows,  however,  that  it  came  most 
naturally  by  this  spirit.  Given  an  ecclesiastical  scheme 
created  by  scholars,  and  handed  over  to  men  not  trained 
scholars,  though  able  and  practical,  the  latter  will  find 
their  only  safety  in  adhering  rigidly  to  its  prescriptions. 
They  know  this  one  thing ;  they  have  not  the  wide  and 
various  reading  which  will  place  at  their  disposal  the 
rich  fruits  of  universal  experience.  Their  conservatism 
is  their  best  protection. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


85 


Yet  the  disaster  predicted  by  this  young  and  thought- 
ful critic  as  certain  to  follow  from  the  overmastering 
force  of  the  connexional  element  in  Methodism  has  been 
happily  averted.  American  Methodism  proves  every 
year  more  tolerant  of  individualism,  and  is  solving,  we 
may  hope  with  entire  success,  the  problem  of  a  strong 
yet  free  government. 

Some  additional  extracts  from  Professor  M'Clintock's 
Diary  will  show  how  he  improved  his  time  during  this 
period  of  enforced  absence  from  college  duty  : — 

Sun.,  Jan.  20.  Read  part  of  the  Apocalypse ;  find  it  is  as  dark  as 
ever — a  sealed  book  to  me,  with  the  exception  of  the  introductory 
chapters.  Read  in  the  "  London  and  Westminster  Review  "  an  ar- 
ticle on  Protestant  and  Catholic  popery,  in  which  the  writer  attempts 
to  fix  the  boundar)'  between  reason  and  faith  in  regard  to  religious 
truth,  or  rather,  to  settle  the  relative  rights  of  reason  and  Scripture. 
He  charges  Christianity,  falsely,  with  requiring  a  belief  of  that  which 
contradicts  reason  ;  which  is  not  true  in  any  proper  sense  of  the  word 
contradictory.  Read  on  this  subject  Coleridge's  "Aids  to  Reflec- 
tion," pp.  120,  209,  etc.,  wherein  is  to  be  found  a  far  more  philosoph- 
ical and  satisfactory-  view  of  the  subject.  I  have  regretted  that 
Richard  Watson  permitted  himself  ever  to  use  the  language,  above 
denied,  as  the  language  of  Christians,  though  he  very  clearly  ex- 
plained himself  in  the  same  connexion.  {Vide  "Watson's  Life,"  by 
Jackson,  ad  fin.) 

Tues.,  Jan.  22.  Rose  at  half  past  eight;  good  sleep  last  night; 
feel  better  this  morning.  Continued  reading  the  Revelation.  Who 
can  understand  it  ?  To  whom  has  it  yet  been  a  revelation  ?  Read 
the  History  of  Philip  of  Macedon,  and  an  outline  of  the  conquests  of 
Alexander  the  Great  in  Asia..  The  accounts  are,  to  say  the  least, 
all  exaggerated,  while  that  of  Quintus  Curtius  is,  in  many  particulars, 
absolute  invention. 

Wed.,  Jan.  23.  Rose  at  nine.    Read  Revelation,  chapter  xviii,  ad 


86 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


fin.  Read  also  part  of  the  history  of  David's  reign,  from  Second 
Samuel.  How  honest  is  the  record  !  all  crimes  and  follies  narrated, 
without  attempt  at  palliation  or  excuse.  Read  part  of  the  history  of 
Alexander's  Successors.  Only  twenty-eight  years  from  the  death  of 
Alexander,  and  not  one  of  his  blood  remained  on  earth  !  Breathing 
easier  to-day.    Great  storm  of  snow  and  wind  ;  afterward  very  cold. 

Thiir.,  Jan.  29.  Rose  at  nine ;  poor  sleep  till  the  small  hours  last 
night ;  pain  in  the  breast  this  morning,  with  glandular  swellings ; 
hope  they  wont  be  troublesome. 

Read  First  Kings — history  of  Solomon's  reign — badly  begun  with 
the  murder  of  his  brother  Adonijah.  Read  in  Hoffman's  "  Thoughts 
of  a  Grumbler ;  "  rather  a  superficial  affair.  Obtained  Life  of  Epis- 
copius ;  can't  read  it  for  a  day  or  two,  they  growl  at  me  {scil.  wife, 
doctor,  etc.)  about  reading  so  much  ;  and  lo  !  I  read  next  to  nothing. 
Read  part  of  Pope's  Life  ;  what  a  vain  creature  he  was  ! 

Letter  from  C.  Gill,  editor  of  "  Mathematical  Miscellany,"  asking 
me  to  contribute  some  articles  for  that  valuable  periodical !  Poor 
me  !  can't  even  bend  my  mind  to  read  a  book  of  mathematics, 
without  thinking  of  writing. 

Thurs.,  Jan.  31.  Continued  reading  Johnson's  "  Life  of  Pope  " — fin- 
ished it.  It  was  not  written  with  Johnson's  usual  care.  The  parallel 
between  Pope  and  Dryden  I  have  had  occasion  to  notice  before.  I 
like  not  these  constrained  parallels,  either  in  history  or  in  criticism. 
Plutarch's  inaccuracies  and  exaggerations  are  mostly  to  be  found  in 
his  parallels,  which  might  be  omitted  from  the  "  Lives "  without 
great  loss  to  any  body. 

Sun.,  Feb.  3.  Rose  at  half  past  nine ;  had  good  sleep  last  night ; 
head  a  little  better  this  morning.  Read  Solomon's  beautiful  and 
comprehensive  prayer  at  the  dedication  of  his  temple.  How  strange, 
that  with  such  a  strong  mind,  such  high  privileges,  and  such  great 
religious  attainments,  he  should  have  fallen !  Perseverance  of  the 
saints,  indeed  ! 

Tues.,  Feb.  5.  O  !  when  shall  I  be  able  to  keep  this  record  without 
giving  it  so  much  the  aspect  of  a  medical  diary }  When  shall  I  be 
free  from  an  invalid's  anxious  cares,  matutinal  self-examination,  even 


THE  REV.  DR.  .M  CLINTOCK. 


87 


ing  potions,  midnight  blisters,  and  the  countless  nugcE  that  make  up 
my  useless  life  at  present  ?  Yet,  perhaps,  not  altogether  useless  ! 
Perhaps  I  may  be  again  restored  to  health  and  strength,  again  able 
to  tread  with  a  buoyant,  joyous  step,  as  once  I  was  wont,  the  glad 
earth  which  I  now  hardly  dare  to  tread  ;  again  able  to  snuff  the  sweet 
summer  breezes  from  our  own  hills  in  Cumberland  ;  to  gaze  upon 
those  splendid  sunsettings,  the  farewells  of  the  dying  day,  which  we 
know  only  in  our  own  valley ;  and  O  !  most  blessed  thought  of  all, 
again  able  to  stand  up  in  the  sacred  place  and  preach  the  Gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ  to  men  !  It  seems  to  me  that  I  could  preach  as  I  never 
thought  of  preaching  before  ;  that  I  knoiu  that  of  the  vanity  of  life 
and  the  power  of  religion  that  I  never  dreamed  of  before  ;  and,  per- 
haps, God  has  intended  this  affliction  for  a  severe  but  precious  dis- 
cipline to  my  unworthy  mind  and  heart !  Could  the  blessed  anticipa- 
tion ever  be  realized,  how  joyfully  would  1  exchange  my  professor's 
chair  for  the  humblest  circuit  in  Methodism,  so  that  I  could  only 
preach,  with  all  the  energies  of  a  sound  mind  in  a  sound  body,  the 
glorious  Gospel  of  Christ  Jesus  !  And  my  dear  wife  is  of  the  same 
mind ;  ready  for  circuit  or  any  thing  else,  to  be  in  the  line  of  duty. 

TImrs.,  Feb.  7.  Rose  at  half  past  eight.  Read  newspapers  and 
dawdled  until  ten,  then  read  three  chapters  in  First  Kings — the  his- 
tory of  Jeroboam  and  Rehoboam.  Drs.  George  and  Samuel  M'Clel- 
lan  called,  examined  throat,  etc.,  prescribed  caustic  !  caustic  !  caus- 
tic !  Something  was  said  about  a  seton  in  the  chest,  but  I  don't  want 
it ;  I  have  tortures  enough  without  artificial  ones. 

Sun.,  Feb.  17.  Rose  at  eight;  delightful  night's  rest,  God  be 
thanked  !  Dear  little  babe,  how  full  of  life  and  vigor  she  is  this  morn- 
ing ;  every  muscle  in  vigorous  exercise,  kicking  and  romping  and 
screaming  like  a  little  witch.  She  is  five  months  and  one  week  old, 
and  measured  this  morning  two  feet  three  inches  and  a  half.  The 
blessing  of  Heaven  rest  upon  the  child  !  Continued  the  history  of 
kings  of  Israel  and  Judah  ;  what  a  record  of  follies  and  crimes  it  is  ! 
Read  a  little  in  Prideaux's  Connexion. 

Mott.,  Feb.  18.  Made  analysis  of  part  of  chapter  xxii,  part  ii,  of 
Watson's  Institutes :  hard  work  trying  to  educe  order  from  chaos. 


88 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


Read  part  of  Reuben  Apsley,  by  Horace  Smith  ;  a  g-ood  story,  told 
plainly  and  well,  especially  the  middle  portions,  but  bad  at  both  ends, 
or  rather  at  both  beginning  and  end. 

Tues.,  Feb.  19.  Spent  an  hour  in  conversation  with  W.  H.  Gilder. 
Talked  of  attempting  a  weekly  religious  paper  in  this  city  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  designed  to  advocate  the  real  interests 
of  Methodism,  "  without  partiality  and  without  hypocrisy."  Wish  sin- 
cerely that  such  a  paper  could  be  established,  though  I  do  not  feel 
much  like  taking  the  responsibility  on  my  own  shoulders,  especially 
in  money  matters  ;  but,  perhaps,  if  my  health  be  not  sufficiently  re- 
stored to  allow  of  my  attending  to  my  duties  at  Carlisle  in  April,  it 
might  be  well  for  me  to  attempt  it. 

Sun.,  Feb.  24.  Rose  at  nine.  Good  sound  sleep  last  night,  and 
feel  pretty  well  this  morning.  All  go  to  church  ;  but  we  must  stay 
at  home.  Well,  the  Lord  is  not  confined  to  the  mountain  or  to  Jeru- 
salem, and  we  may  enjoy  his  presence  and  smiles  in  our  little  cham- 
ber. Read  in  First  Chronicles  ;  how  beautiful  and  comprehensive  is 
^\\^  prayer  of  Jabez,  in  chapter  iv  !  I  thought  of  passing  by  the  first 
nine  chapters  entirely,  as  containing  nothing  but  dry  genealogies  ;  but, 
then,  I  should  have  missed  that  sweet  prayer,  lying  like  a  well  in  a 
desert. 

Had  wife  read  to  me  in  the  evening  from  Wordsworth's  "  Excur- 
sion," and  sister  Jane,  an  article  on  "  Rituals,"  from  the  "  New  York 
Review ; "  which  article,  by  the  way,  is  a  beautiful  specimen  both  of 
reasoning  and  eloquence.  My  own  mind  has  been  made  up  for  some 
time  upon  the  question  of  forms  of  prayer.  I  believe  that  our  fathers 
erred,  in  this  country',  in  yielding  to  the  wishes  of  the  people,  and 
abolishing  the  use  of  forms  of  prayer  in  the  Methodist  Church.  Could 
it  be  done  safely,  I  would  be  glad  to  see  them  introduced. 

Thurs.,  Feb.  28.  Finished  the  "  Life  of  Drew,"  He  certainly  accom- 
plished great  things  with  small  means  ;  but,  as  he  himself  admits,  it 
is  the  contrast  between  his  opportunities  and  his  performances  which 
entitles  him  to  eminence.  His  w^orks  are  great,  not  absolutely,  but 
relatively  to  his  circumstances. 

Read  most  of  the  "  Life  of  Joshua  Marsden."    Rather  a  feeble 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


89 


mind,  I  judge ;  but  a  man  of  good  feelings  and  virtuous  principles. 
After  all,  these  are  infinitely  more  valuable  than  those. 

Thurs.,  March  7.  Raked  up  from  the  dust  of  father's  book-shelves 
the  old  numbers  of  Stockton's  "  Wesleyan  Repository,"  and  was 
much  interested  in  running  over  them.  I  suppose,  though  I  am  not 
sure  of  it,  that  the  publication  was  ver)'  unpopular  with  the  Meth- 
odist preachers  at  the  time.  It  was  too  bold  entirely ;  attributed  too 
little  infallibility  to  our  system.  The  same  spirit  exists  at  this  day  to 
a  considerable  extent. 

Fri.y  March  1 5,  Baltimore.  Rode  up  to  the  Conference  Room,  in 
Sharp-street,  (Wesley  Chapel,)  and  found  the  Conference  in  session  ; 
Bishop  Andrew  in  the  chair.  The  case  on  hand  was  that  of  Brother 
Asbury  Roszel,  who  was  to  be  continued  on  trial.  J.  A.  Collins  ob- 
jected, on  the  ground  of  his  having  been  retained  at  Carlisle  during 
the  year,  and  that  he  would  probably  be  retained  hereafter.  There 
was  a  pretty  full  discussion  of  the  principle  on  which  Methodist 
preachers  are  put  into  colleges.  Dr.  Bangs  spoke  very  well  on  the 
case,  and  the  Bishop  laid  down  the  law  very  clearly ;  though  I  differ, 
ioto  coelo,  from  his  sentiments  in  regard  to  our  college  work,  as  ex- 
pressed in  his  speech.  His  doctrine  was,  that  the  college  situations 
were  subordinate  to  the  general  itinerant  work,  and  that  it  is  wrong 
to  keep  men  in  them  who  might  be  useful  in  the  ranks  of  the  minis- 
try ;  on  which  account  laymen  are  to  be  preferred  for  professors,  etc., 
when  they  can  be  had.  Now,  I  do  not  believe  that  our  educational 
system  ought  to  be  regarded  as  subordinate  to  but  co-ordinate  with 
the  general  religious  system  ;  and  I  cannot  see  on  what  other  ground 
the  Bishop  is  at  all  justifiable  in  appointing  preachers  to  colleges  and 
schools.  And,  moreover,  if  I  believed  the  sentiment  of  Bishop  An- 
drew just,  I  could  not  continue  my  connexion  with  College  another 
hour,  consistently  with  my  views  of  a  Methodist  preacher's  duty. 
Besides,  it  is  my  deliberate  opinion,  and  one  not  formed  from  theory, 
or  d,  priori,  but  from  actual  experience  in  colleges,  that  all  the  pro- 
fessors should  be  ministers  of  the  Gospel  if  possible.  The  inter- 
dependence of  sound  learning  and  sound  theology  is  too  close,  the 
bearing  of  scientific  doctrines  upon  religion  is  too  intimate,  to  allow 


90 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


all  these  interests  to  lie  in  the  hands  of  men  who  have  never  made 
theology  a  peculiar  study.  And  in  our  Methodist  Colleges  there  are 
additional  reasons  for  filling  all  the  professorships  with  ministers  ;  in 
that  case  only  are  they  directly  responsible  to  the  Conferences  which 
sustain  the  Colleges. 

Thurs.  morning,  March  21.  Dr.  Buckler,  the  celebrated  physician 
of  this  city,  called  on  me  yesterday  and  examined  my  throat.  He 
assured  me  that  this  indolent  inflammation  must  have  been  of  long 
standing,  and  originated  in  a  morbid  condition  of  the  stomach. 
Advised  me  not  to  use  the  simple  bougie,  nor  any  mercurials,  but 
simply  to  travel,  use  a  mild  aperient  every  morning,  and  keep  cool. 
He  also  ordered  a  revulsive  of  caustic  potash  upon  the  back  of  the 
neck,  and  advised  a  trip  to  the  Red  Sulphur  Springs  of  Virginia  dur- 
ing the  summer  if  possible.  I  was  considerably  pleased  with  his 
opinions. 

Sun.,  March  24,  Philadelphia.  How  kindly  does  Providence  adapt 
our  desires  to  our  circumstances  !  One  year  ago,  I  was  choice  in  my 
food,  and  required  a  great  deal  of  it  to  satisfy  my  appetite  and  sup- 
port nature.  Now  I  live  upon  my  fluid  diet,  with  hardly  a  thought 
or  wish  with  regard  to  any  other  food ;  my  appetite  is  good,  but  is 
stayed  by  a  few  tumblers  of  milk,  and  I  find  it  sufficiently  nutritious. 
Thank  God  for  all  his  mercies  ! 

Fri.,  March  29.  Thirty-four  leeches  applied  to  the  back  of  my 
neck  this  morning.  They  may,  perhaps,  prevent  a  recurrence  of  last 
night's  disagreeables.  Day  spent  at  home.  Read  Job  ;  read  in  Tay- 
lor's "Home  Education;"  also  Scott's  "Count  Robert  of  Paris." 

Wed.,  April  3.  Left  Philadelphia  at  five  P.  M.  yesterday  in  the 
cars,  and  after  a  less  fatiguing  and  troublesome  ride  than  I  had  an- 
ticipated, reached  my  father-in-law's  house,  in  Jersey  City,  at  about 
half  past  eleven  P.  M.  Found  wife  up  with  the  dear  little  one  in  her 
arms ;  but  O,  how  changed  from  the  fair  creature  that  I  left  but  a 
few  weeks  ago  !  The  rich  glow  of  her  sunny  cheek  was  gone,  the 
sparkle  of  her  eye  had  vanished,  and  she  lay  there,  little  more  than  a 
lump  of  clay.  Still  she  lives,  and  there  is  hope.  The  doctor  gives 
us  some  encouragement.    God  save  the  child  ! 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLIXTOCK. 


91 


Sat.,  April  6.  Nine  A.  M.  Babe  is  dying ;  the  sweet  spirit  will 
soon  be  a  cherub  I  She  is  dead  I  O  God,  thou  art  tr)  ing  me  in  the 
fire  I 

Sun.,  April  7.  Buried  our  little  love,  at  least  her  mortal  part,  in 
the  vault  at  Bergen  Hill.  So  vanish  earthly  joys  !  Another  tie  to 
the  skies  !    Poor  wife,  it  is  indeed  a  blow  to  her. 

Mon.,  April  22.  Left  Philadelphia  at  six  A.  M.  in  the  railroad  cars  ; 
reached  CarHsle  at  five  P.  M.,  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  miles  in 
eleven  hours,  including  about  two  and  a  half  hours'  stoppages  at  dif- 
ferent points  on  the  road.  The  day  was  delightful,  and  I  found  the 
journey  not  near  so  fatiguing  and  oppressive  as  I  had  anticipated. 

Thurs.,  April  25,  Carlisle.  Have  been  reading,  for  a  day  or  two, 
Sampson  Reid's  "  Growth  of  the  Mind  ;  "  a  most  beautiful  produc- 
tion, abounding  in  elevated  truths,  imbued  with  a  pure  and  spiritual 
philosophy,  and  written  in  a  most  chaste  and  elegant  style.  Strange 
that  so  clear  a  mind  should  submit  to  the  delusion  and  folly  of 
Swedenborgianism  ! 

Sun.,  May  19.  The  past  week  has  been  one  of  great  blessings  and 
much  enjo)Tnent.  The  exquisite  sweetness  and  purity  of  the  atmos- 
phere, the  opening  of  fresh  flowers  daily,  the  songs  of  innumerable 
birds,  all  have  contributed  to  keep  me  much  in  the  open  air,  and  my 
health  has  improved  accordingly.  I  have  been  under  the  homoeo- 
pathic treatment  all  the  time,  but  am  really  at  a  loss  to  know  wheth- 
er I  derive  any  benefit  from  it,  or  whether  all  my  improvement  may 
not  be  attributed  to  the  delightful  circumstances  with  which  I  am 
surrounded. 

Fri.,  May  24.  Heard  recitations  on  Tuesday  and  Wednesday  in 
Paley's  "Evidences."  Dined  Wednesday  on  thickened  milk,  of  bet- 
ter consistency  than  any  thing  I  had  taken  before  since  last  Septem- 
ber. Have  great  pleasure  in  the  kindness  of  friends  here  ;  truly  they 
abound  in  their  love  to  us,  and  I  know  not  wherefore. 

Wed.,  May  29.  Have  read  a  good  deal  in  Swedenborg,  and  really 
am  at  a  loss  to  imagine  how  any  man  in  his  wits  can  find  any  thing 
here  to  attract  him.  There  are,  it  is  true,  many  pretty  \-isions,  many 
strange  fantasies,  many  brilliant  pictures,  and  many  profound  truths  ; 


92 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


but  these  are  so  buried  up  in  masses  of  the  veriest  nonsense,  so  ob- 
scured by  absolute  ravings,  that  the  man  must  have  Httle  to  do  who 
can  afford  to  spend  time  in  searching-  for  them.  Gutted,  to-day,  T. 
Jackson's  "Centenary  of  Methodism."  Commenced  on  Monday 
Prescott's  "  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,"  and  Philip's  "  Life  of  Bunyan." 

Mon.,  June  17.  Mrs.  Allen  died  at  half  past  nine  A.  M.,  on  Satur- 
day, after  a  week  of  almost  unintermitting  agony.  She  died  in  peace, 
aged  twenty  years.  God  grant  that  I  may  be  ready  for  his  call  if  I 
should  be  the  next  summoned  away !  It  is  somewhat  strange,  that 
within  the  last  few  years  ever)'  member  of  the  Faculty  of  Dickinson 
College  has  received  some  cup  of  bitterness  from  the  hand  of  Provi- 
dence :  President  D.  lost  his  wife  ;  Professor  E.,  his  father  ;  Professor 
R.,  his  brother  ;  I  lost  my  sweet  babe,  and  the  use  of  my  throat ;  and 
Professor  A.  has  this  day  buried  his  wife.  Perhaps  God  has  a  con- 
troversy with  us.  O  that  we  were  more  devoted  to  his  cause  and  to 
his  glory  ! 

Tues.,  June  25.  Finished,  to-day,  reading  Prescott's  "  Ferdinand 
and  Isabella ; "  a  clear,  perspicuous  history,  in  the  very  best  style  of 
historical  writing.  It  hardly  pretends  to  be  a  philosophical  history. 
Am  much  pleased  with  Townsend's  "Notes  on  New  Testament," 
except  his  notions  on  High  Church.  Derive  great  benefit  and  im- 
provement from  Campbell's  "Dissertations  and  Notes."  Watson's 
"Exposition"  is  not  what  I  hoped  to  find  it.  His  style  is  destitute 
of  simplicity,  which  is  the  first  requisite  in  the  style  of  an  expositor. 

Sun.,  July  7.  The  worst  feature  of  my  present  affliction  is,  and  has 
been,  that  I  cannot  preach  the  Gospel.  I  sometimes  think  that  the 
rod  has  thus  been  laid  upon  me  in  order  to  prevent  my  preaching ; 
that  one  so  worldly,  so  sensual,  so  trifling,  so  led  away  by  frivolous 
aims,  so  desirous  of  worldly  honors,  so  careless  in  regard  to  divine 
things,  and  so  ignorant  of  them,  should  not  occupy  the  sacred  desk 
as  an  ambassador  for  Christ !  If  it  be  so,  O  Lord,  purge  me  still 
more  thoroughly,  that,  in  the  end,  if  it  be  consistent  with  thy  holy 
will,  I  may  be  permitted  again  to  lift  up  my  voice  in  calling  sinners 
to  repentance.  But  I  have  little  zeal  for  God.  If  I  had  a  proper 
zeal,  I  could  do  much  for  his  cause,  even  though  I  do  not  preach  ; 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


93 


on  the  contrary,  however,  I  fear  that  I  have  made  my  feeble  health  a 
plea  for  the  neglect  of  many  duties  !    God  forgive  and  cleanse  me  ! 

Tues.,  July  9.  Commencement  week — hurry,  hurry,  bustle,  flurry, 
all  the  time — no  opportunity  for  reading,  writing,  thought,  or  any 
thing  else.  Examinations  have  closed  ;  went  off  very  well.  Emory 
will  leave  ;  sorry,  indeed,  I  am.  While  I  do  full  justice  to  the  purity 
of  his  motives,  and  the  uprightness  of  his  intentions,  I  am  well  con- 
vinced that  he  has  erred  in  his  judgment  in  regard  to  this  matter. 
Perhaps,  however,  Providence  will  overrule  it  all  for  good. 

I  have  been  requested  by  a  correspondent  to  describe 
Professor  M'Clintock's  method  as  a  student.  I  hesitate 
somewhat  to  comply.  It  is  not  easy  for  the  artist  to  dis- 
close the  secret  of  his  power,  much  less  easy  is  it  for  one 
who  has  no  more  than  the  opportunities  of  an  observer. 
As  this  memoir,  however,  will  be  read  by  Methodist  minis- 
ters, such  account  as  I  can  give  of  Dr.  M'Clintock's  student 
life  may  be  helpful  in  the  way  of  suggestion.  The  meth- 
ods of  scholars  are  probably  very  much  alike.  Given  an 
insatiable  hunger  for  knowledge,  with  opportunity  for  its 
satisfaction,  and  knowledge  will  be  gathered.  I  should 
put  this  unappeasable  hunger  for  truth  as  the  first  fact ; 
Dr.  M'Clintock  zvoiild  know  whatever  was  to  be  known. 
He  would  open  ways  for  himself  into  every  field  of 
knowledge,  and  would  survey  it,  if  he  could  do  no  more. 
His  mental  independence  was  the  next  striking  feature 
of  his  method.  He  did  his  own  thinking.  He  was  not 
content  to  be  any  man's  echo.  The  passages  from  his 
diary  already  quoted  prove  with  what  vigor  he  used  his 
critical  faculty.  It  was  not  common,  at  that  day,  for 
young  men  to  speak  so  freely  of  the  worthies  of  Meth- 


94  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

odism  ;  but  he  always  insisted  that  the  one  lesson  to  be 
learned  from  the  life  of  John  Wesley  was  the  lesson  of 
intellectual  self-reliance.  In  exploring  a  subject  a  cer- 
tain tact  made  him  quickly  familiar  with  its  literature. 
What  others  had  thought  and  said  upon  it  came  readily 
to  his  hand.  He  thus  gathered  about  him  speedily  the 
materials  for  complete  investigation,  would  instinctively 
find  the  right  clew,  and  would  then  push  forward  till  he 
saw  what  he  wished  to  know  with  the  utmost  vividness. 
His  mind  never  leaped  to  conclusions;  he  might  antici- 
pate them,  but  would  march  up  to  them,  keeping  on  solid 
ground.  His  multifarious  reading  was  carefully  indexed, 
so  as  to  be  always  within  reach.  Important  passages 
were  copied  at  length.  On  every  leading  topic  he  had 
a  large  body  of  notes  drawn  from  the  best  authorities. 

In  using  this  abundant  material  his  first  aim  was  to 
attain  a  perfect  insight,  and  then  to  exercise  an  indepen- 
dent judgment.  He  was  not  overmastered  by  his  ac- 
quisitions, but  kept  them  under  due  control.  He  ef- 
fected this  by  his  organizing  power,  which  was  the 
dominant  faculty  of  his  mind.  To  reduce  knowledge  to 
its  all  comprehending  principles  was  no  less  a  pleasure 
than  a  necessity  for  him.  His  habits  of  composition  were 
most  laborious.  Nothing  slovenly  from  his  pen  was 
ever  allowed  to  see  the  light.  His  critical  judgment 
held  watch  and  ward  over  every  paragraph.  He  was 
most  solicitous  of  criticism,  and  scarcely  ever  produced 
an  important  review  or  essay  that  he  did  not  ask  his 
most  intimate  friends  to  point  out  defects  in  either  mat- 
ter or  form.    Through  this  process  of  discipline  his  style 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  95 

became  clear,  crisp,  and  faultless  in  form,  though  it  was 
perhaps  lacking  in  warmth.  In  preparation  for  public 
addresses  there  was  a  like  carefulness  observed,  but  with 
it  there  was  a  large  trust  to  his  spontaneous  power.  His 
sensibilities  were  quick,  and  kindled  readily  in  the  pres- 
ence of  an  expectant  audience.  He  was  equal  to  extra- 
ordinary occasions,  could  interpret  the  inarticulate  emo- 
tion of  his  hearers,  and  give  it  voice  and  expression  with 
a  power  of  eloquence  which  left  little  to  be  desired.  I 
shall  speak,  however,  of  his  oratorical  gifts  more  at  length 
in  subsequent  chapters. 

LETTERS  FROM  MAY,  1836,  TO  MARCH,  3839. 
I. 

Jersey  City,  Bergen  Co.,  N.  J.,  3I(Hj  27,  1836. 
For  one  whole  year  have  I  been  preaching  Christianity  under  the 
direction  of  the  Philadelphia  Conference,  and  in  that  year  I  have 
learned  that  to  be  a  faithful  preacher,  something  more  is  requisite  than 
sound  moral  feelings,  or  strong  religious  excitement.  A  man  must 
have  some  intellect,  and  some  lungs,  too,  in  order  to  perform  all  the 
duties  of  a  Methodist  preacher  successfully.  During  the  year  I  have 
had  considerable  opportunity  for  study,  and  have  partially  improved 
it,  both  in  following  up  my  collegiate  studies,  and  in  penetrating  the 
mysteries  of  the  theologians  :  though  in  these  latter  I  have  certainly 
made  r.s  yet  but  little  progress.  In  fact,  unless  my  views  of  these 
subjects  change  much  in  the  lapse  of  years,  I  shall  never  be  a  theo- 
logian, in  the  common  sense  of  the  term,  though  I  should  live  and 
preach  for  half  a  century.  My  chief  studies  at  present  are,  "  Longi- 
nus  on  the  Sublime,"  of  which  I  am  attempting  a  translation,  (just 
commenced,  however,)  and  the  writers  on  "  Moral  Philosophy  ;  "  with 
which  matter  I  intend  to  make  myself  as  well  acquainted  as  the  na- 
ture of  it  will  admit.    In  the  mean  time,  I  purpose  to  prepare  myself 


96 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


for  a  future  professorship  in  either  Language  or  Ethics,  so  that 
should  I  be  called  upon  from  any  quarter,  I  may  be  ready  to  answer. 

During  the  present  spring  my  health  has  been  very  poor — the  re- 
sult of  laborious  preaching.  I  find  that  continued  preaching  will  soon 
destroy  me — the  excitement  is  too  great  for  my  very  excitable  tem- 
perament. My  health,  comfort,  happiness,  and  usefulness,  I  am  well 
convinced,  would  all  be  better  were  I  in  a  situation  more  congenial 
to  my  feelings,  and  more  suitable  to  my  weak  capacities,  than  that 
of  a  stated  preacher.  It  requires  qualities  that  I  do  not  possess. 
Thus  far,  however,  I  have  gone,  I  think,  under  the  direction  of  a  kind 
and  gracious  Providence,  for  whose  guidance  I  still  look,  and  whose 
openings  I  shall  implicitly  follow. 
Pbofessoe  Emory. 

II. 

Jersey  CrrY,  Sept.  2, 1S36. 
Dear  Father: — I  received  a  letter  yesterday  from  Mr.  Paine, 
President  of  La  Grange  College,  informing  me  of  my  election  to  the 
professorship  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy — salary,  $900 
per  annum.  A  new  session  opened  August  first,  and  will  terminate 
in  January-.  The  present  incumbent  will  retain  his  office  until  my 
arrival,  should  I  accept  and  reach  La  Grange  before  first  of  October, 
beyond  which  date  he  cannot  remain,  so  that  I  am  urged  to  hasten 
my  departure.  The  college  is  located  in  Franklin  County,  Alabama, 
ten  miles  from  Tuscumbia,  on  the  summit  of  a  mountain,  with  one 
of  the  finest  and  most  extensive  landscapes  in  the  United  States. 
The  pecuniary  condition  of  the  establishment  is  good — and  prospects 
still  brightening.  There  are  two  large  three-story  brick  buildings — 
one  having  one  hundred  feet,  the  other  seventy-two  feet  front,  with  a 
laboratory  and  chapel.  The  place  is  proverbial  for  health.  The 
number  of  students  varies  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and 
forty :  their  character  for  scholarship  and  morals  inferior  to  none  in 
the  western  colleges.  The  Faculty  are :  President,  Professor  of 
Mathematics,  Adjunct  Professor  of  Languages,  Professor  of  Chemis- 
try, Professor  of  Languages — with  a  tutor.  Faculty  harmonious — for 
some  years  united. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


97 


The  reasons  for  my  accepting  this  professorship  are  various  ;  some 
are — tirst,  the  healthfulness  of  the  situation,  and  its  southern  cli- 
mate, which  my  constitution  needs.  Second,  the  excellence  of  the 
offer,  which  indeed  somewhat  surprises  me.  Third,  its  being  for  the 
Mathematics,  to  which  our  Professors  so  strongly  urged  me.  Fourth, 
the  providential  circumstances  which  seem  to  direct  me  strongly 
to  the  acceptance  of  the  offer.  I  shall  not  be  able  to  tarry  here  long 
— 1  cannot  subsist  without  employment,  nor  can  I  live  without  study. 
For  this,  the  opportunity  and  the  necessity  will  both  arise  from  the 
office  in  Alabama. 

There  are  reasons  against  my  acceptance,  the  chief  of  which  is,  the 
distance  from  home.  This,  however,  is  not,  and  will  not  be  insuper- 
able. Could  I  obtain  a  suitable  situation  in  Carlisle  or  Randolph — 
Macon,  I  should  prefer  it,  but  there  is  no  opening  that  I  know  of. 
In  reference  to  Carlisle  I  am  yet  in  the  dark,  having  heard  nothing 
from  Mr.  Durbin,  and  not  knowing  for  what  situation  he  would  wish 
my  services.  If  you  know,  I  should  be  glad  to  learn,  in  your  answer 
to  this,  whether  I  am  wanted  at  Carlisle  (if  now  wanted  at  all)  as  a 
teacher  in  the  Grammar  School,  or  as  an  assistant  in  the  College. 
A  knowledge  of  this  would  be  a  great  kindness  to  me.  You  will 
find  inclosed  a  letter  to  Mr.  Durbin  ;  after  you  read  it,  please  seal  it 
up  and  send  it  to  him  if  in  Philadelphia,  or  if  not,  send  it  immediately 
to  Carlisle. 

III. 

Carlislk,  March  20,  1S37. 

Dear  Father: — From  Mr.  Durbin's  communication,  I  have  very 
little  doubt  in  regard  to  the  result  of  the  election,  and  suppose,  there- 
fore, that  my  labors  here  have  been  satisfactory.  At  all  events,  I 
am  conscious  of  having  well  discharged  every  duty  devolving  upon 
-me  in  the  office.  I  have  been  somewhat  perplexed  in  regard  to  the 
propriety  of  my  being  ordained,  and  I  have  not  pursued  the  Confer- 
ence studies  so  as  to  pass  an  examination.  I  shall  abide  by  the 
decision  of  the  bishop — or  rather,  his  advice  in  reference  to  the  ordi- 
nation. I  have  always  had  a  very  salutary  dread  of  taking  strong 
7 


98 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


vows  of  any  kind  :  and  especially  religious  vows  in  awkward  circum- 
stances. The  ordination  of  local  nnen  and  professors  I  can  hardly 
understand.  Still  I  may  be  ignorant,  and  merely  mention  the  thing 
to  let  you  know  what  my  thoughts  have  been: 

IV. 

Philadelphia,  February  15,  1S39. 
The  feelings  evinced  by  your  remarks  upon  the  itinerancy,  and  es- 
pecially upon  the  prospect  of  your  own  connexion  with  it,  are  such 
as  I  cannot  but  approve  :  indeed,  I  sympathize  in  these  from  the  bot- 
tom of  my  heart,  for  they  have  been  all  my  own,  both  before  and 
(but  in  a  far  greater  degree)  since  I  have  been  laid  upon  the  shelf  as  an 
invalid.  As  to  one  of  your  principles,  I  have  been,  and  still  remain, 
somewhat  doubtful.  I  refer  to  the  doctrine  that  it  is  improper  for  an 
annual  Conference  to  admit  into  the  ministry  any  individual  whose 
relations  to  society  would  not  be  changed  by  the  said  admission. 
Certainly  it  seems  to  me,  that  if  our  educational  system  is  to  be  viewed 
as  a  co-ordinate — or  even  subordinate — branch  of  our  religious  sys- 
tem, whose  design  is  to  prepare  men  for  the  reception  of  Gospel 
truth,  and  to  carry  that  truth  home  to  their  hearts — if,  I  say,  our 
educational  plans  are  to  be  regarded,  I  can  see  no  more  difficulty  in 
admitting  a  man  and  permitting  him  to  remain  in  college,  than  in 
sending  him  to  the  roughest  circuit  in  Methodism.  The  mere  fact 
of  our  connexion  being  called  a  travelling  ministr\-  does  not  impose 
the  necessity  upon  ever)'  one  who  may  be  admitted  into  it  of  pulling 
up  stakes  and  setting  off  at  once,  in  the  letter  of  the  system,  to  travel. 
Nor  can  the  mere  formal  difference  between  receiving  a  man  as  a 
professor,  and  appointing  him  as  a  professor  immediately  after  he  is 
received,  be  of  any  avail.  It  strikes  me  the  whole  difficulty  lies  in  the 
supposition,  that  if  a  man  is  received  into  the  ministry  hampered  by 
"any  such  connexion,"  there  is  a  contract  implied,  if  not  expressed, 
that  he  shall  always  remain  in  such  situation,  and  that  his  relation  to 
the  Conference  must  never  subject  him  to  the  performance  of  any 
other  duties.    But  certainly  there  is  no  such  implication  ;  or  if  it  be 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  99 

supposed  that  there  is,  it  can  easily  be  guarded  against  by  a  distinct 
statement  at  the  time  of  admission. 

As  for  my  own  health,  I  sometimes  indulge  the  hope  that  I  may  be 
again  able  to  perform  my  duties  at  Carlisle — nay,  that  I  may  again 
be  permitted  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  to  men.  Should 
this  be  the  case,  I  feel  persuaded  (though  I  may  deceive  myself,  as 
many  have  done  before)  that  the  affliction  which  I  have  endured  will 
have  been  a  precious  discipline  to  me,  and  that  I  shall  never  again 
be  able  to  look  with  indifference  upon  the  great  work  of  human  sal- 
vation, never  again  be  able  to  preach,  without  an  earnest  previous 
preparation  of  prayer,  as  well  as  of  thought.  O  how  differently  do 
we  estimate  w'orldly  things  when  they  appear  to  be  receding  from  us  ; 
when  that  reality  to  which  we  must  all  come  at  last,  though  so  few 
are  able  to  appropriate  it  to  themselves  in  health — the  reality,  name- 
ly, that  we  must  die — is  pressed  upon  us  with  all  the  force  of  imme- 
diate nearness  !  Such  thoughts  have  been  my  almost  constant  com- 
panions— not,  indeed,  because  I  have  been  in  any  danger  of  imme- 
diate death,  but  because  (perhaps)  I  have  been  shut  out  from  the 
world  and  its  employments,  and  have  had  leisure  for  that  self- 
reflection  which  can  be  so  seldom  enjoyed  amid  the  bustling  labors 
of  active  life.  I  hope  to  be  with  you  in  April,  Deo  volente. 
Professoe  Emory. 

V. 

Baltimore,  March  19,  1S89. 

Dear  Robert  : — Let  me  say  that  your  determination  [to  leave 
the  college  and  enter  the  travelling  ministry]  creates  general  regret 
both  among  preachers  and  people,  and  your  best  friends  are  sorry 
that  you  should  have  found  such  a  course  necessaiy  to  your  peace,  and 
especially  at  this  time.  I  have  not  heard  a  preacher  speak  upon  the 
subject  who  has  not  thus  expressed  himself,  and  many  have  fears  for 
the  effect.  Permit  me  to  say,  too,  that  your  modesty  alone  (which  I 
must  admire,  while  I  regret  its  results)  could  lead  you  to  suppose 
your  connexion  with  the  college  of  small  importance.  I  know  that 
the  prosperity  of  the  school  has  been  considerably  identified  with 


100 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


your  name,  and  that  your  disconnexion  from  it  will  be  of  serious, 
though  I  hope  only  temporary,  injury.  I  have  now  spoken  my  mind 
freely.  In  all  probability  the  close  relation  that  we  have  sustained 
to  each  other,  by  our  connexion  with  the  school,  is  now  sundered 
for  ever.  I  had,  indeed,  expected  its  severance  ere  this,  but  by  an- 
other agency — the  hand  of  death,  whose  presence  I  felt  in  my  own 
bedchamber.  But  that  hand  seems  to  be  lifted,  and  I  may  yet  live 
to  enter  upon  my  duties  again  in  September.  If  I  shall  be  so  per- 
mitted, it  will  be  the  only  bitterness  in  the  cup  of  pleasure  which  I 
shall  take  up  when  I  enter  upon  my  work,  that  I  shall  see  you  no 
more  in  our  college  halls,  and  commune  with  you  no  more  in  our 
college  sociality.  God  bless  you,  my  brother,  wherever  you  are,  and 
however  you  may  be  employed  !  If  you  go  out,  God  grant  you  great 
success  in  the  work  of  the  ministry — and  under  all  circumstances, 
though  you  may  have  many  more  valuable,  you  shall  find  no  more 
sincere  friend  than  JOHN  M'Clintock,  Jun. 

Peofessor  Emoby. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


lOI 


CHAPTER  III. 
1 839-1 847. 

An  Ideal  Life — Carlisle  and  the  Cumberland  Valloy— Eapid  Progress  in  Study— Social 
Habits — Improvement  of  Health— Centenary  of  Methodism,  October,  1S39— Reading  on 
Christian  Perfection  and  the  Human  Will— Grief  at  Parting  with  Robert  Emorj— Transfer 
from  the  Chair  of  Mathematics  to  that  of  Ancient  Classic  Languages— Oitlained  Elder  by 
Bishop  Hedding — Illness  and  Death  of  his  Mother— Recovery  of  his  Voice  and  Return  to  the 
Pulpit— Characteristics  and  Power  as  a  Preacher—Estimates  of  Carlyle  and  Goethe— Stabil- 
ity in  his  Opinions  and  Steadfast  Adherence  to  Evangelical  Doctrine — Profound  Interest  in 
the  Slavery  Controversy — Active  Opjiosition  tn  tlu  Annexation  of  Texas— Lettt-rs  in  the 
Chrvitiun  Ailvocdte  on  the  Duty  of  the  Church — Publication  of  Greek  and  Latin  Text- 
Books,  and  Xeander's  '-Life  of  Christ"— Letters. 

IT  was  very  much  an  ideal  life  that  Dr.  M'Clintock 
led  while  a  professor  in  Dickinson  College.  The 
valley  in  the  midst  of  which  Carlisle  stands  has  often 
been  compared  by  the  imaginative  to  the  happy  vale  of 
Rasselas.  Encircled  lovingly  on  either  side  by  the  Blue 
Mountain  ridge,  and  enveloped  in  an  atmosphere  of  crys- 
tal clearness,  on  which  the  play  of  light  and  shade  pro- 
duced every  hour  some  new  and  striking  effect,  it  was,  in 
a  measure,  withdrawn  from  the  tumult  of  the  world.  The 
tumult  might  be  heard  in  the  distance,  but  did  not  come 
near  enough  to  disturb  the  calm  of  studious  pursuits. 
The  town  preserved  the  tradition  of  the  learned  culture 
which  has  distinguished  it  from  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century.  Its  population  was  not  enterprising; 
manufacturing  was  but  little,  if  at  all,  known  to  it.  The 
rich  soil  of  the  valley  poured  out  every  year  abundant 
harvests,  and  the  borough  was  no  more  than  the  centre 


102 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


of  exchanges,  or  the  market  for  supplies.  The  steady 
pace  and  even  pulse  of  agricultural  life  seemed  here  to 
tone  down  the  fevered  excitement  which  is  the  usual  con- 
dition under  which  American  society  exists. 

Helped  by  these  favoring  circumstances,  the  years 
from  1839  to  1847  were  most  fruitful  to  Professor  M'Clin- 
tock  as  a  student.  The  change  in  the  former  year  from 
the  chair  of  mathematics  to  that  of  ancient  languages  led 
him  into  new  and  congenial  occupations.  The  pleasure 
of  acquiring  knowledge  was  always  perhaps  greater  to  him 
than  the  pleasure  of  imparting  it.  He  used  to  say,  jocu- 
larly, that  a  college  would  be  delightful  if  only  there  were 
no  students.  He  was,  nevertheless,  a  most  faithful  and 
laborious  teacher ;  in  point  of  fact,  his  classes  stimulated 
him  and  gave  zest  to  his  exertions.  He  had  the  art  of 
connecting  the  work  of  the  students  with  his  own  cul- 
ture, and,  if  on  a  higher  plane,  was  moving  in  the  same 
lines  with  them.  What  he  was  investigating  he  would 
often  give  them  to  investigate,  and  so  kept  himself  in  the 
class-room  fresh  and  full  of  vitality.  During  the  most  of 
this  period  he  was  free  from  anxious  cares,  and  could 
surrender  himself  without  interruption  to  his  cherished 
studies.  That  was,  indeed,  an  ideal  life  in  which  the  long 
hours  could  be  devoted  to  the  exploration  of  the  philos- 
ophy of  Greek  accents,  the  mysterious  force  of  the  particle 
dv,  and  all  the  fascinating  subtleties  of  linguistic  pursuits. 

He  was  greatly  aided  by  his  social  advantages,  and 
made  them  helpful  to  his  more  serious  occupations. 
It  was  not  often  that  he  could  be  induced  to  spend  a 
whole  evening  in  society.    Time  was  too  precious,  he 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLIXTOCK.  I03 

said,  and  he  begrudged  the  surrender  of  so  many  hours. 
Every  day  he  would  take  pains  to  see  some  friend,  would 
beguile  a  half  hour  with  pleasant  chat,  and  then  be  off 
again  to  work.  In  such  pauses  from  labor  he  would  be 
as  playful  as  if  his  life  were  a  long  holiday.  Brief 
snatches  of  social  enjoyment  suited  him  better  than  cere- 
monious observances,  though  to  these  latter  he  gave, 
when  required,  due  attention.  He  had  the  magnetism 
which  made  him  a  charming  companion,  and  if  he  drew 
much  from  society,  he  also  gave  much  to  it.  From  the 
manv  bitter  thingrs  against  himself  which  he  wrote  down 
in  his  diary,  he  always  made  one  reservation — that  he 
had  the  capacity  of  loving.  Wherever  he  might  be,  he 
would  gather  friends  about  him.  and  gain  through  themi  a 
fresh  relish  of  existence.  His  sympathies  were  catholic, 
and  enabled  him,  whenever  he  willed  it,  to  touch  the  world 
at  many  points.  He  could  enter  quickly  into  the  life  of 
others,  come  to  an  understanding  of  it,  and  establish 
agreeable  relations  with  them,  without  an  unnecessary 
expenditure  of  time.  His  social  power  supplemented  his 
talents,  and  contributed  largely  to  his  success. 

By  the  opening  of  the  college  year,  in  September,  1839, 
his  health  was  fully  restored,  and  he  entered  upon  his 
work  with  enthusiasm.  His  diary  here  presents  the 
best  picture  of  him  and  of  his  multifarious  studies  : — 

Tues.,  Sept.  17.  Carlisle.  Busy  day  again — examining  students  for 
admission  into  college — all  is  hurly-burly,  tumult  and  labor — but  to- 
day will  be  the  last  of  it,  I  hope,  as  recitations  are  assigned  for 
to-morrow. 

Frt.,  Sept.  27.   How  delightfully  time  glides  away  !    My  throat 


104 


LIP^E  AND  LETTERS  OF 


improves :  I  have  constantly  the  gay  and  buoyant  feeling  of  conva- 
lescence ;  can  attend  to  all  my  business  ;  study  with  greater  ease 
than  ever.  Thank  the  Lord  for  all  his  mercies  !  Perhaps  I  shall 
yet  be  able  to  preach  again  ;  if  so,  Lord,  prepare  me  for  the  work  ! 

Fri.,  Oct.  4.  Commenced  Hebrew  with  Dr.  H.,  yesterday,  don't 
like  him  much  ;  do  not  suppose  him,  from  what  I  have  yet  seen,  to 
understand  the  language  philosophically. 

Thurs.,  Oct.  24.  Usual  duties  at  college  attended  to.  Have  read 
lately  much  in  Mahan's  "  Christian  Perfection,"  a  most  excellent 
exposition  of  that  Christian  doctrine  by  a  Presbyterian  clergyman. 
My  religious  experience  is  getting  deeper  and  wider.  I  have  a  constant 
sense  of  dependence,  and  gratitude  such  as  I  have  seldom  known. 
And  yet  I  have  little  or  no  religion.  God  help  me  ! 

Fri.,  Oct.  25.  The  centenary  of  Methodism  !  This  day  a  million 
of  hearts  will  keep  as  the  Sabbath  !  This  day  a  million  of  voices 
will  unite  in  singing  the  high  praises  of  God  in  Methodist  chapels  ! 
What  a  stupendous  exhibition  of  moral  power  does  the  Methodism 
of  this  day  exhibit ! 

Heard  R.  Emory  in  the  morning,  from  "  They  that  sow  in  tears 
shall  reap  in  joy.  He  that  goeth  .  .  .  sheaves  with  him."  It  was  a 
neat,  clear,  and  perspicuous  exhibition  of  the  rise,  progress,  and  doc- 
trines of  Methodism.  I  closed  the  meeting  after  Mr.  Emory  with 
singing  and  prayer,  being  my  first  public  church  exercise  !  God  be 
praised  for  all  his  goodness  !  J.  P.  Durbin  preached  a  centenary 
sermon  in  the  evening  which  was  highly  spoken  of,  but  I  did  not 
hear  him. 

Sun.,  Oct.  27.  Finished  to-day  reading  Mahan  on  "  Christian  Per- 
fection." Find  in  it  much  to  approve,  and  but  one  or  two  points  to 
condemn.  The  man  evidently  feels  what  he  writes  ;  there  is  life  and 
energy  in  it ;  it  comes  warm  from  the  heart.  Certainly  it  has  stirred 
me  up  more  than  any  practical  treatise  that  I  have  ever  read,  and 
my  mind  has,  for  some  days  past,  been  dwelling  strongly  on  the 
subject  on  which  he  writes.  Read  also  part  of  Fletcher's  last  Check 
which  treats  of  this  subject,  and  gleaned  the  views  of  Campbell 
and  Macknight  from  their  commentaries.    How  strangely  meagre 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  13$ 

are  Mr.  Watson's  remarks  on  this  subject,  both  in  his  "Institutes'* 
and  "  Dictionary  " — nay,  in  his  Exposition  also.  This  is  our  twenty- 
fifth  birthday — mine  and  my  wife's  !  One  quarter  of  a  century  of  life 
gone !  How  little  of  it  has  been  improved  and  fully  devoted  to  the 
glory  of  God  ! 

Sun.,  Nov.  3.  A  fine,  beautiful  Sabbath  morning  !  Read  in  "  Town- 
send  "  before  church.  At  eleven  heard  a  most  clear  and  beautiful  dis- 
course on  Psalm  i  from  Alfred  Griffith,  our  presiding  elder,  and 
closed  the  meeting  after  him  with  prayer.  What  occasion  of  thank- 
fulness have  I  for  the  almost  miraculous  recovery  of  my  throat ! 
Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  !  In  the  afternoon  we  had  a  de- 
lightful season  at  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  in  the  admin- 
istration of  which  I  assisted.  Of  course  I  could  not  literally  "eat" 
the  Bread ;  but  I  trust  that  the  ordinance  was  blessed  to  my  advan- 
tage notwithstanding.  Would  hear  Mr.  Durbin  this  evening  if  pos- 
sible :  perhaps  the  time  will  yet  come  when  I  shall  not  only  be  able 
to  attend  all  the  services  of  the  sanctuary,  but  assist  in  the  perform- 
ance of  them. 

Sat.,  Nov.  9.  Heard  Junior  Class  in  analytical  geometry  this 
morning.  How  beautiful  is  that  great  work,  the  offspring  of  the 
teeming  mind  of  Descartes  !  I  often  think  that  injustice  is  done  to 
Descartes  in  common  fame.  I  know  that  all  men  of  real  knowledge 
and  discernment  allow  him  to  have  possessed  mighty  intellectual 
powers  and  pure  moral  purposes  ;  but,  mainly  on  account  of  his  un- 
fortunate speculations,  distinguished  although  his  vortices  were  as 
a  theory  which  none  but  a  mind  of  the  most  wonderful  acuteness 
could  have  conceived,  his  name  has  come  to  be  associated,  in  the 
public  or  vulgar  estimation,  with  Atheists  and  Alchemists  ! 

Mon.,  Nov.  18.  Read  in  "  Upham  on  the  Will  "  and  Tappan's  re- 
view of  "Edwards  on  the  Will;"  also  an  excellent  article  in  the 
"American  Biblical  Repository"  for  October,  on  Cause  and  Effect, 
considered  in  Connexion  with  Fatalism  and  Free  Agency,  in  which 
Edwards'  doctrine  of  the  Will  is  fairly  and  completely  overthrown. 

Fri.,  Nov.  22.  Another  clear,  cold,  windy  day.  Recitation  in  ge- 
ometry unusually  pleasant  and  interesting.    I  never  have  had  morj 


io6 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


success  in  teaching  than  during  the  present  session,  thank  Provi- 
dence for  all  his  goodness  I  My  health  seems  steadily  improving  ;  and 
I  am,  perhaps,  approaching  the  time  when  I  shall  rejoice  in  the  pos- 
session of  a  mens  sana  in  corpore  sano  :  certainly  my  mind  acts  with 
more  rapidity,  vigor,  and  certainty,  than  it  has  done  for  years.  Read 
the  evangelist's  account  of  Christ's  triumphant  entry  into  Jerusalem. 
What  a  close  fulfilment  of  Zechariah's  prophecy  !  Read  in  the  even- 
ing the  introduction  to  Edwards  and  Park's  "  Selections  from  Ger- 
man Literature,"  which  is  a  fine  production  indeed  ;  its  spirit  and 
tendency  are  just  what  they  should  be ;  too  latitudinarian  for 
a  strict  orthodoxy — such  an  orthodoxy  as  claims  entire  infaUibility 
for  human  interpretations — but  not  too  liberal  for  the  spirit  of  the 
Gospel.  Studied  a  good  deal  in  Greek  syntax,  ^schylus,  and  me- 
chanics— the  doctrine  of  parallel  forces. 

Sat.,  Nov.  23.  Heard  Junior  Class  in  analytical  geometry  ;  gave 
them  a  lecture  upon  the  advantage  of  such  studies  m  forming  habits 
of  attention,  recollection,  and  quickness  of  apprehension.  Took 
occasion,  also,  to  enforce  upon  them  the  necessity  of  acquinng  the 
power  and  fixing  the  habit  of  solitary  thought — meditation,  reflection  ; 
without  which,  I  informed  them  that  they  could  never  be  strong  men. 
Read  the  "Prometheus  Vinctus  "  for  an  hour  with  R.  E.  A  sweet 
and  noble  spirit  he  is  I  I  love  him  more  and  more,  day  after  day. 
Afternoon,  read  a  couple  of  chapters  in  "  Cicero  de  Amicitia."  What 
a  spirit  of  beauty  lives  in  the  writings  of  that  man  ! 

Wed.,  Nov.  27.  Letter  from  Dr.  L.  The  Book  Committee  at  New 
York  decided  against  the  expediency  of  publishing  my  "  Analysis  of 
Watson's  Institutes."  The  blockheads  doubt  whether  it  would  be 
useful  for  the  young  men  I  Wrote  to  Dr.  L.  to  send  it  back  in  a 
package  of  books  which  I  have  just  ordered. 

Sat.,  Nov.  30.  Read  and  studied  a  good  deal  to-day.  Evening, 
Messrs.  Durbin,  Emor}',  Caldwell,  Allen,  and  myself,  met  for  the  pur- 
pose of  commencing  a  critical  investigation  of  that  great  crux  phi- 
losophomm — the  human  will.  We  take  Upham's  book  on  the  Will 
for  the  basis — and  a  wretchedly  written  affair  it  is.  Our  meeting 
was  interesting  and  profitable.     I  shall  observe  the  mental  charac- 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


107 


teristics  of  my  associates  as  closely  as  possible  in  the  course  of 
these  meetings,  as  I  shall  have  an  opportunity  to  do  so. 

Tues.,  Dec.  10.  Usual  duties  performed.  Very  busy  also  in  writing 
Lectures  on  "  Differential  and  Integral  Calculus  "  for  my  Senior  Class 
in  college.  I  am  decidedly  of  the  opinion  that  the  method  of  infinites- 
imals ought  to  be  introduced  to  the  minds  of  students  earlier  in  the 
mathematical  course,  and  their  minds  habituated  to  it,  so  that  when 
they  come  to  study  the  very  abstruse  principles  on  which  any  theory 
of  the  calculus  must  rest,  they  will  not  have  the  additional  disadvan- 
tage— additional,  I  mean,  to  their  entering  upon  a  very  difficult  path 
of  being  entirely  in  a  new  world. 

Wed.,  Dec.  II.  Pretty  good  health  —  excellent  spirits.  Read  a 
good  deal  on  the  will ;  and  after  Faculty  meeting  in  the  evening  the 
subject  was  discussed,  in  connexion  with  our  text-book,  (Upham's,) 
by  Durbin,  Caldwell,  Emory,  and  self. 

Tkurs,,  Dec.  26.  A  bitter  day.  Parted  with  Robert  Emory,  whose 
connexion  with  Dickinson  College  is  severed.  I  knew  not  how  my 
heart  was  bound  up  in  him.  It  is  full  now,  almost  to  breaking ;  the 
world  seems  desolate.  I  must  endeavor  to  turn  back  the  tide  of  my 
love  upon  my  own  poor  heart  again.  Rather,  must  I  fix  my  affec- 
tions more  steadily  upon  "things  above,"  not  on  things  "on  the 
earth."   The  blessing  of  God  go  with  thee,  my  brother  !  my  friend  ! 

This  parting  from  his  colleague  he  frequently  mentions 
as  a  very  sore  trial.  They  had  known  each  other  from 
youth.  The  two  young  men  were  nearly  of  the  same 
age.  Robert  Emory  had  been  so  much  associated  with 
his  father  in  counsel  that  he  had  attained  what  might  be 
termed  a  precocious  maturity.  In  the  chair  which  he 
occupied  in  Dickinson  College  he  had  won  for  himself 
a  reputation  for  broad  and  accurate  scholarship,  and  skill 
as  an  instructor,  of  which  any  one  might  be  proud. 
His  mind  inclined,  howxv^er,  to  administration  more  than 


io8 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


to  literature.  He  had  inherited  his  father's  sound  judg- 
ment, strong  will,  and  great  executive  power,  and  was 
considered  by  all  who  knew  him  to  be  predestined  to 
the  episcopal  office,  which  his  father  had  adorned.  A 
conviction  that  it  was  his  duty  to  enter  upon  the  active 
work  of  the  ministry  had  decided  him  to  relinquish  his 
professorship.  He  would  begin,  too,  at  the  beginning, 
and  accepted,  therefore,  with  all  cheerfulness,  though  he 
had  been  offered  one  of  the  highest  offices  in  the  church, 
the  position  of  a  junior  preacher  on  an  old-fashioned  cir- 
cuit. To  his  chivalrous  spirit  the  evasion  of  his  full 
share  of  the  privations  and  exposures  of  a  Methodist 
preacher's  life  would  have  presented  itself  as  a  crime. 
Polished,  gifted,  and  finely  cultured  as  he  was,  the  hum- 
blest details  of  ministerial  duty  had  for  him,  through 
their  connexion  with  their  higher  ends,  a  dignity  which 
glorified  them,  and  made  their  performance,  in  his  esti- 
mation, an  unceasing  pleasure. 

The  lives  of  these  two  men  were  so  knit  together  in 
the  bonds  of  friendship  that  it  is  difficult  to  convey  an 
adequate  impression  of  the  character  of  the  one  without 
some  description  of  the  character  of  the  other.  They 
were,  after  this  separation,  unexpectedly  associated  again 
in  college  life.  In  the  year  1842,  when  President  Durbin 
went  abroad,  Professor  Emory  acted  as  pro-tempore  pres- 
ident ;  and  in  1845,  upon  Dr.  Durbin's  resignation,  he  was 
unanimously  chosen  his  successor.  In  person  he  was 
tall,  and  of  commanding  presence.  His  manner  was 
instantly  suggestive  of  large  converse  with  the  world, 
and  familiarity  with  every  nicety  of  usage.    Of  scholarly 


THE  REV.  DR,  M'CLINTOCK.  IO9 

shyness  no  trace  was  observable  in  him.  Under  this  grace 
and  suavity  of  the  man  of  the  world  there  lay  such  a 
spirit  of  self-abnegation  as  made  him  an  example  of  the 
highest  form  of  Christian  excellence.  To  lose  himself  con- 
tinually in  some  object  out  of,  and  greater  than,  himself, 
was  the  one  law  of  his  conduct.  It  was  impossible  to 
spend  an  hour  in  his  society  without  receiving  a  strong 
impression  of  his  disinterestedness.  He  would  preach 
with  as  much  painstaking  care  to  a  handful  of  hearers  in 
a  roadside  school-house,  as  to  a  cultivated  city  congre- 
gation ;  would  sit  down  by  the  side  of  a  child  to  teach  it 
a  lesson  in  the  rudiments  of  Christianity,  or,  after  holding 
nightly  service  with  his  people,  would  ride  away  for  miles 
to  watch  by  the  bedside  of  a  sick  preacher.  It  was  in 
rendering  this  last-named  attention  that  he  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  disease  which  carried  him  prematurely 
to  the  grave.  The  readiness  with  which  he  threw  aside 
worldly  advantage  for  the  sake  of  higher  objects  would 
have  seemed  stoical,  had  it  not  been  obvious  that  his 
nature  was  pervaded  by  Christian  sensibility. 

I  know  that  this  language  will  be  called  extravagant,  but 
it  will  not  appear  so  to  the  living  who  remember  Robert 
Emory,  and  to  whom  I  can  appeal  for  attestation  of  the 
accuracy  of  this  description.  Professor  M'Clintock  wrote 
thus  of  him  after  his  death :  "  Of  all  the  men  whom  I 
have  yet  known  upon  earth,  he  was  the  purest  and  best. 
During  nearly  half  of  his  earthly  life  I  knew  him,  for  the 
last  twelve  years  I  have  been  in  almost  daily  intercourse 
with  him  ;  and  I  never  saw  in  him  one  act  of  guile, 
never  heard  from  him  an  unworthy  sentence,  never  per- 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


ceived  in  him  an  unchristian  temper.  To  be  with  him 
daily  was  to  enjoy  the  most  blessed  of  opportunities  'to 
mark  the  perfect  man  and  to  behold  the  upright.'  " 

At  the  opening  of  the  year  1840  Professor  M'Clintock 
completed  the  exchange,  which  he  had  for  several  months 
contemplated,  of  the  chair  of  mathematics  for  that  of  the 
ancient  classic  languages.  He  had,  as  he  said,  some  mis- 
givings, but  they  did  not  extend  beyond  himself.  This 
was  soon  followed  by  his  return  to  the  pulpit,  which,  with 
other  events  of  this  period,  we  will  let  him  describe  : — 

Fri.,  Jan.  3,  1840.  Heard  first  recitation  in  classics  to-day ;  Junior 
in  "  Cicero  de  Officiisy  Succeeded  better  than  I  had  anticipated. 
Throat  suffers  a  little  ;  I  have  some  misgivings ;  but,  on  the  whole, 
hope  predominates. 

Sun.,  Jan.  5.  Fine  day ;  weather  a  little  warmer,  though  still  se- 
verely cold.  Read  "  Watson,"  etc.,  preparing  for  recitation  tliis  after- 
noon. Went  to  church,  and  participated  in  the  holy  sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  Supper,  with  some  profit,  I  trust.  Heard  recitation  of  class 
in  theology,  and  discoursed  with  them  a  little  on  the  grounds  of  the 
argument  for  the  Divine  existence. 

Stm.,  Jan.  19.  Afternoon;  the  subject  in  the  theology  class  was 
the  attributes  of  God — Unity  and  Spirituality.  The  immateriality 
of  mind  was  brought  in,  with  various  kindred  subjects,  on  which  I 
enlarged  with  freedom,  and,  I  hope,  with  profit,  for  about  an  hour 
and  a  half ;  but  my  throat  suffers  somewhat  from  the  effort. 

Sun.,  April  19,  Burlington,  N.  J.  This  must  be  a  memorable  day  ! 
I  was  this  morning  ordained  elder  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
at  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  by  that  reverend  and  holy  man  of  God, 
Bishop  Hedding.  The  sermon  was  a  fine  specimen  of  a  pure,  excellent 
style  of  preaching  ;  more  like  Mr.  Wesley's  preaching  than  any  other 
man's,  that  I  can  remember,  in  the  Church.  The  text  was,  "  For 
thus  it  behooved  Christ,"  etc.  The  sermon  was,  i.  The  sufferings  and 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


resurrection  of  Christ:  (i,)  their  causes;  (2,)  their  effects.  2.  The 
duties  and  privileges  resulting:  (i,)  duties,  to  preach  repentance  and 
remission  of  sin  ;  and,  (2,)  privileges  to  hear  these  glorious  doctrines. 
It  was  a  delightful,  profitable  sermon — plain,  practical,  poinied. 
The  solemn  ser\'ices  affected  my  heart.  God  make  me  faithful,  and, 
if  it  be  thy  will,  restore  me  to  health,  that  I  may  be  enabled  again  to 
preach  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ ! 

Man.,  April  27,  Carlisle.  Left  Philadelphia  at  six  in  the  morning  in 
the  cars  for  home,  with  wife,  sister  Margaret,  and  my  dear  mother, 
who  is  remarkably  emaciated  and  feeble.  I  feared  the  effects  of  the 
journey  upon  her  wasted  frame.  We  provided  a  mattress  for  her 
to  lie  upon,  and  spread  it  for  her  in  the  cars,  so  that  she  was  very- 
comfortable  until  we  reached  Lancaster,  where  we  changed  cars. 
However,  she  sat  up  very  comfortably  until  the  end  of  the  journey, 
and  seemed  very  little  fatigued  when  we  reached  home  at  five  P.  M. 
.  Fri.,  May  29.  Since  the  last  entry  in  this  book  I  have  seen,  heard, 
and  learned  a  great  deal.  My  enjoyment  of  four  or  five  days  has 
never  been  so  great  before.  On  Friday,  22d,  left  home  for  Baltimore, 
at  one  o'clock  P.  M.,  in  company  with  Professor  Caldwell  and  his 
wife,  in  our  carriage.  On  Sunday  morning  heard  a  very  excellent 
discourse  from  Rev.  W.  B.  Christie,  on  "Enter  ye  in  at  the  strait 
gate."  His  voice  is  very  poor,  his  enunciation  indistinct,  but  the 
sermon  was  good,  and  calculated  to  be  useful.  In  the  evening,  at 
Rev.  Mr.  Duncan's  church,  heard  a  discourse  of  the  ver)-  first  order 
of  excellence,  from  Rev.  Robert  Newton,  of  England,  on  "  Pray  with- 
out ceasing."  I  was  pleased,  nay,  delighted,  and  abundantly  edified. 
It  was,  in  my  judgment,  a  perfect  sermon  :  clear,  perspicuous,  sim- 
ple, forcible — full  of  the  spirit  of  religion — the  love  of  Christ.  His 
voice  has  greater  richness  and  compass  than  any  that  I  ever  listened 
to ;  it  is,  indeed,  almost  superhuman.  Although  he  is  no  orator,  in 
the  proper  sense  of  the  word,  he  is  yet  a  most  admirable  preacher. 

Sun.,  May  31.  A  day  of  great  mercies  and  great  enjoyment. 
Heard  President  D.,  in  the  morning,  on  *'  None  of  these  things  move 
me,"  etc.  A  very  fine  sermon.  I  closed  the  meeting  with  much  en- 
largement.   At  night  T.  Bowman  preached,  and  I  ventured  to  exhort 


112 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


after  sermon.  Talked  nearly  fifteen  minutes,  and  then  read  hymn, 
and  prayed  with  very  little  difficulty.  God  be  praised  !  Perhaps  I 
shall  yet  preach  again. 

Sun.,  June  2\,  A  great  day!  For  the  first  time  since  August, 
1838,  I  tried  to  preach  to-day  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Preached  an  hour  and  ten  minutes  on  Prov.  xx,  6,  and  found  myself 
little  or  no  worse  after  the  effort.  Latis  Deo  I  Afternoon  I  heard  a 
stirring  sermon,  and  one  very  appropriate  to  the  circumstances,  from 
H.  Slicer,  in  the  Market  House. 

Fri.,  June  26.  Mother's  health  continuing  to  fail,  it  was  thought 
best,  both  by  herself  and  father,  for  her  to  be  removed  to  the  family 
home.  It  was  sad,  indeed,  to  make  arrangements  for  my  revered 
and  beloved  mother  to  leave  my  home  to  die !  Cousin  B.  came 
up  from  Philadelphia  on  Wednesday,  as  father  could  not  leave  his 
office,  and  it  was  decided  that  we  should  leave  on  Thursday  morn- 
ing. Accordingly,  at  half  past  ten  o'clock  we  conveyed  mother, 
then  very  weak,  in  the  carriage  to  the  hotel,  where  she  remained 
until  the  cars  came  at  eleven,  when  we  all  started  for  Lancaster. 
Mother  endured  the  fatigue  of  travel  much  better  than  I  expected. 
We  made  her  comfortable  by  spreading  a  bed  for  her  in  the  cars,  on 
which  she  reposed  until  we  reached  Lancaster,  at  half  past  four 
P,  M.  She  seemed  better  in  the  evening  than  when  we  left  home  m 
the  morning.  I  remained  at  Lancaster  with  them  all  night,  and  then 
left  my  dear  mother,  much  affected  at  parting  with  me,  at  half  past 
four  o'clock  this  morning,  and  reached  home  at  noon.  I  am  all 
anxiety  to  hear  how  she  fared  during  the  rest  of  the  journey  to 
Philadelphia. 

Sat.,  July  4.  Left  home  in  the  cars  at  half  past  four  A.  M.,  and 
after  a  very  tedious,  uneasy,  nervous  kind  of  ride,  reached  Philadel- 
phia at  three  P.  M.,  and  my  mother's  bedside  at  half  past  three. 
Found  her  still  alive  and  sensible.  She  attempted  to  kiss  me  and  to 
press  my  hand — said  that  she  knew  me,  and,  in  answer  to  a  question, 
feebly  pronounced  my  name,  "John."  It  was  the  last  word  she  ut- 
tered. She  lay  in  a  quiet  slumber;  her  respiration  became  more  and 
more  feeble,  until  finally,  at  seven  P.  M.,  her  gentle  spirit  took  its  flight. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


113 


There  was  no  pain,  no  struggle,  no  uneasiness ;  but  peacefully  and 
quietly  she  left  the  world.  Her  mind  was  as  calm  and  tranquil  dur- 
ing her  death-scene  as  it  had  been  during  her  whole  sickness.  No 
shadow  of  apprehension  ever  crossed  her  mind  ;  no  uneasiness  in  re- 
gard to  the  future ;  the  fear  of  death  was  entirely  removed.  My 
noble  mother !  my  blessed  mother !  I  can  hardly  realize  that  thou 
art  gone — that  I  shall  never  again  hear  thy  voice  of  love,  or  behold 
thy  face  of  beauty  ! 

Sun,,  July  12.  On  Wednesday  I  left  Philadelphia  at  six  A.  M.,  and 
reached  Carlisle  at  five  P.  M.  Heard  Professor  Allen  deliver  his 
most  excellent  Baccalaureate  address  in  the  evening.  Thursday, 
Commencement,  the  best  we  ever  had.  Yesterday,  went  with  Bishop 
Waugh  and  others  to  the  mountain.  To-day,  heard  the  bishop 
preach  two  excellent  sermons — morning  and  evening — and  Brother 
J.  A.  Massey  at  the  Court  House  in  the  afternoon. 

Tues.,  Sept.  8.  Have  not  written  for  a  month  in  my  Journal.  Busi- 
ly engaged  in  arranging  garden,  grounds,  etc.,  in  moving  books  to 
College,  and  have  spent  many  days  in  active  exercise  ;  consequently 
am  rapidly  gaining  health  and  strength. 

Tues.,  Oct.  27.  Twenty-sixth  birthday  of  wife  and  self.  Health 
good  ;  worldly  affairs  prosperous  ;  doing  something,  I  trust,  for  pos- 
terity. What  vicissitudes  !  Two  years  ago  this  day  I  thought  my 
work  was  done  ! 

Thiirs.,  Dec.  31.  The  last  day  of  the  year!  I  have  been  review- 
ing its  course— it  has  been  a  wonderful  year  indeed  to  me  !  My 
health  has  been  restored  beyond  my  hopes,  and  I  am  now  able  to 
work  for  my  Master.  I  have  committed  my  blessed  mother  to  the 
grave — her  image  has  been  with  me  much  of  late.  She  was  indeed 
a  noble  woman  !    And  now  she  is  in  heaven  ! 

Sun.,  Jan.  3,  1841.  Preached  this  morning  on  John  xii,  25,  for  an 
hour  and  twenty  minutes,  with  great  good  feeling  and  manifest  im- 
pression on  the  congregation.  I  have  preached  now  six  times  with- 
in a  month  ;  besides  very  frequent  attendance  at  night  meetings. 
Hardly  a  sermon  that  I  have  preached  of  late  but  has  been  blessed 
to  the  building  up  of  the  Church,  or  to  the  conviction  and  conversion 


114 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


of  souls.  The  Lord  be  praised  !  The  Lord  prepare  and  fit  me  for 
more  abundant  usefulness,  and  place  me  wherever,  in  his  divine 
providence,  I  can  be  most  useful ! 

Very  noticeable  is  the  joy  which  the  recovery  of  the 
use  of  his  voice  and  his  return  to  the  pulpit  gave  to 
Professor  M'Clintock.    His  experience  of  suffering,  and 
his  abundant  reading  during  his  illness,  had  added  greatly 
to  his  resources  as  a  preacher.    His  sermons  from  this 
period  on  were  both  richer  in  their  substance,  and  more 
highly  charged  with  feeling.    He  had  at  all  times  been 
perspicuous  and  scriptural,  but  his  pulpit  discourses  were 
now  full  of  impassioned  eloquence.    In  his  preparation 
he  aimed,  first,  at  a  sound  exposition  of  the  passage  in 
hand.    Nothing  loose  or  uncertain  here  would  satisfy 
him.    What  in  the  Old  or  New  Testament  was  not  clear 
to  his  mind  he  laid  aside.    It  was  his  habit  to  present 
the  lesson  he  would  enforce  in  the  fewest  and  simplest 
words.    The  results  of  his  wide  and  various  reading  ap- 
peared in  statements  of  such  lucidity  that  any  one  of 
ordinary  intelligence  could  comprehend  them.    The  pa- 
rade of  erudition  he  heartily  despised,  and  for  stilted 
rhetoric  he  had  a  supreme  contempt.    He  had  an  equal 
dislike  of  startling  propositions  which  would  prove,  on 
examination,  to  be  but  half  true,  and  never  indulged  in 
them.    Yet,  on  the  other  hand,  he  did  not  commit  the 
error  of  throwing  down  before  his  hearers  masses  of 
truth  in  an  aA\'kward  and  helpless  fashion.    Grace  con- 
trolled his  manner  and  shaped  his  matter.    He  had  the 
true  artistic  sense,  and  was  studious  of  perfection  in 
form.    As  the  discussion  proceeded  from  point  to  point, 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  II5 

his  voice  developed  its  richness,  his  feehngs  kindled,  and 
communicated  their  excitement  to  his  audience.  Pas- 
sages of  highly-wrought  but  chastened  rhetoric  would 
awaken  momentary  attention,  but  would  soon  be  lost  in 
the  flow  of  his  rapid  utterance.  His  congregation  fol- 
lowed his  discourse  with  the  keen  satisfaction  which 
comes  of  the  gaining  of  a  clearer  knowledge  of  truth,  and 
a  healthful  quickening  of  their  best  impulses.  Through- 
out all,  the  one  chief  object  of  preaching — the  winning 
of  men  to  Christ — was  never  for  a  moment  left  out  of 
sight.  He  considered  no  sermon  worth  attention  of 
which  Christ  was  not  the  Alpha  and  the  Omega — the 
beginning  and  the  end. 

On  the  platform  Professor  M'Clintock  was  as  effective 
as  in  the  pulpit ;  and  he  was  always  in  demand  for  im- 
portant occasions,  when  the  claims  of  the  great  charities 
of  the  Church  were  to  be  advocated.  His  preparation 
for  these  addresses  was  just  as  careful  as  for  his  sermons. 
As  a  result,  they  were  remarkable  for  their  freshness  and 
power.  I  remember  when,  on  one  occasion,  he  had  so 
trite  a  theme  as  "  Home  Missions,"  he  invested  it  with 
a  new  interest  by  an  elaborate  description  of  the  breadth 
and  magnificence  of  the  land  which  we  Americans  call 
our  home.  He  saw  facts  and  events  in  their  large 
relations,  and  interpreted  their  meaning  with  unusual 
sagacity,  so  that  when  he  stood  upon  the  platform  he 
was  able  to  lift  his  hearers  up  to  broader  views  than 
it  was  their  habit  to  take,  and  to  kindle  in  them  an 
enthusiasm  for  great  Christian  enterprises. 

His  growing  popularity  as  a  preacher  brought  him 


ii6 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


numerous  invitations  for  special  services.  During  two 
of  his  long  vacations  he  made,  in  company  with  his 
friends,  S.  S.  and  S.  A.  Roszell,  extensive  tours  in  the 
valley  of  Virginia,  where  he  addressed  the  people  at 
their  camp-meetings,  and  made  friends,  of  whose  un- 
bounded hospitality  he  speaks  with  the  greatest  admi- 
ration. His  appearances  in  the  Methodist  pulpits  of 
Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  and  New  York  were  frequent, 
and  extended  his  reputation  as  an  orator.  He  was  in 
demand,  also,  as  a  lecturer  ;  but  the  lecture  system  was 
not  then  organized,  and  lecturing,  therefore,  received  but 
a  small  share  of  his  attention.  Through  all  these  vari- 
ous activities  he  was  continually  becoming  better  and 
better  known  as  a  growing  man,  and  was  making  him- 
self a  centre  of  interest  and  hope. 

His  Diary  is  here  again  the  best  record  of  his  studies 
and  his  inner  life  : — 

Thurs.,  July  29.  My  mind  has  been  calm,  easy,  and  happy  for 
some  days.  Clouds  that  have  surrounded  it  have  broken  away,  and 
1  look  into  the  future  with  brighter  anticipations  than  I  have  in- 
dulged for  a  long  time.  My  faith  is  strong,  I  am  determined,  by 
God's  help,  that  it  shall  never  be  weakened.  To  do  nothing  wrong 
is  my  settled  maxim.  May  I  only  fulfil  it  as  earnestly  as  I  resolve  it, 
and  then  I  can  look  up  to  my  heavenly  Father  without  fear,  trusting 
in  his  mercy  through  Christ  Jesus  I — Letter  from  R.  E.  His  mind  is 
yet  unsettled  about  coming  here.  He  does  not  see  the  line  of  duty 
distinctly.  God  strengthen  his  vision  !  I  wish  he  had  my  eyes  for  a 
httle  while  as  spectacles. 

/>/.,  Dec.  3.  Read  Carlyle's  "  Review  of  Taylor's  Historic  Survey 
of  German  Poetry,"  in  the  third  volume  of  his  "  Miscellanies."  Con- 
tinued reading  Carlyle's  "Miscellanies."  A  few  great  thoughts  are 
continually  struggling  for  expression  in  all  his  writings  ;  he  sees  them 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


117 


through  all  mediums.  Whatever  he  begins  with,  these  always  come 
up — touj ours  per drix — so  it  ought  to  be  :  at  last  they  will  come  out 
and  make  themselves  heard  among  men. 

Sun.,  Feb.  13,  1842.  Read  "  Garrettson's  Life"  and  Carlyle's 
"  Characteristics  " — the  latter  through.  A  powerful  but  perplexing 
essay — troubles  me  a  good  deal. 

Wed.,  March  29.  R.  Emory  will  be  with  us  next  week,  and  will 
remain  a  year  as  acting  president  of  college.    Laus  Deo  ! 

Wed.,  Nov.  16.  Pursuing  study  of  German,  Hebrew,  etc.,  which, 
with  college  duties,  keep  me  occupied  about  thirteen  hours  out  of 
the  twenty-four,  so  that  I  have  little  time  to  give  to  friends,  etc.  My 
health  is  tolerably  good,  but  yet  I  find  that  my  close  confinement 
operates  injuriously.  Glanced  hastily  over  Dickens's  "  Notes  on 
America."  He  is  in  the  wrong  box  this  time.  Strange  that  a  man 
should  risk  so  much  for  the  sake  of  making  a  little  money.  To  run 
over  a  great  continent  in  six  months,  and  then  write  and  publish  a 
book  upon  its  people  and  institutions  in  three  more — what  greater 
folly  could  he  be  guilty  of 

Dec.  25.  Another  Christmas  day  !  Each  year  is  shorter  than  the 
last !  Preached  this  morning  from  Matt,  ii,  2,  with  brief  and  imper- 
fect preparation  ;  of  course  it  was  not  a  very  successful  sermon.  I 
am  more  than  ever  convinced  of  the  necessity  of  careful  preparation 
for  the  pulpit.  Since  the  last  entry  I  have  been  more  or  less  unwell, 
and  for  an  entire  week  unable  to  do  duty  in  college.  Am  now  bet- 
ter, and  hope  to  improve  greatly  during  the  short  vacation.  Studied 
hard  and  well  during  the  session  in  Greek,  Latin,  German,  and 
Hebrew.  Read  most  of  Lord  Bacon's  Works ;  Carlyle's  "  Sartor 
Resartus  ;  "  Wigger's  "  History  of  Pelagianism  and  Augustinism  ;  " 
Goethe's  "  Wilhelm  Meister ; "  Whately's  "Kingdom  of  Christ;" 
many  of  Carlyle's  "  Essays  "  again  ;  Macaulay's  "  Miscellanies,"  do. ; 
with  all  the  reviews,  etc.  My  moral  being  is  in  a  strange  way.  Some 
points  of  good  are  very  strongly  developed  in  my  character,  and 
some  weaknesses  seem  invincible.  The  best  thing  about  me  is,  the 
capacity  of  loving.  I  love,  and  I  am  happy  in  loving.  No  man  has 
more  to  be  thankful  for — friends  and  friendship — than  L 


Ii8 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


Dec.  31.  Last  day  of  the  week,  month,  year.  Gone,  gone — forever 
gone  !  What  a  host  of  sins  of  mine  have  gone  with  those  hours  ! 
Am  I  wiser  than  I  was  a  year  ago  ?  More  learned  I  certainly  am — 
but  am  I  any  wiser  for  the  learning?    I  fear  not. 

Though  his  review  of  the  year  is  so  critical  and  self- 
depreciating,  his  life  at  this  time  was  really  full  of  joy. 
To  the  satisfaction  of  increasing  his  scholarly  acquisitions 
was  added  a  boundless  domestic  contentment.  His  let- 
ters to  his  intimate  friends  overflow  with  high  spirits ; 
this  one,  for  example,  written  near  the  end  of  December 
to  his  wife's  parents,  has  nothing  sombre  in  it : — 

Carlisle,  Bee.  21,  184J. 
The  few  remarks  that  I  have  to  offer  on  this  occasion  may  be  pre- 
sented under  four  heads : — I.  My  head  ;  2.  Caroline's;  3.  Emory's  ; 
4.  Margaret's.  (By  the  way,  Emory's  ought  only  to  have  been  an  in- 
ference, and  not  a  separate  head.)  As  to  the  first  head,  my  friends, 
it  is  as  large  as  ever  and  better  filled — adding  to  its  furniture  every 
day.  Externally  it  has  not  as  large  a  covering  of  hair  as  it  once  had, 
but  it  still  has  a  sufficiency.  As  to  the  second  head,  which  is  closely 
connected  with  the  first,  and  derives  most  of  its  importance  there- 
from— but  if  you  should  therefore  suppose,  my  friends,  that  the  sec- 
ond head  is  in  any  wise  unimportant,  you  would  err  most  grievously, 
from  it  emanate  all  orders  for  the  refection  of  our  inward  man ; 
it,  and  it  alone,  can  declare  whether  the  morrow's  breakfast  will,  or 
will  not,  be  enlivened  with  coffee  and  buckwheat  cakes.  The  head 
is  a  good  one,  and  works  harmoniously  and  happily  with  the  first. 
It  has  a  good  share  of  energy  and  activity — fruitful  in  expedients, 
firm  in  recollection,  keen  in  judgment.  But,  my  friends,  I  fear  I  am 
becoming  tedious.  Let  us  pass  now  to  the  third  and  most  interest- 
ing head,  perhaps,  to  be  treated  of  this  evening.  Outwardly,  at  least, 
it  is  much  more  seemly  than  either  of  the  others  :  adorned  with  two 
brilliant,  sparkling  eyes  of  jet,  with  two  rows  of  shining  teeth, 
cheeks  like  the  south  side  of  a  peach,  and  other  ornaments  to  match. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


119 


Inwardly,  we  can  hardly  say  yet,  my  friends,  what  it  is.  But,  judging 
of  it  as  an  inference  from  the  first  and  second  heads,  w^hich  we  are 
fairly  entitled  to  do,  we  can  fearlessly  predict  that  it  will,  hereafter, 
be  a  wonder  to  country  bumpkins  why  it  don't  burst — so  full  of 
learning.  On  the  great  whole,  this  head  gives  some  surpiising  dem- 
onstrations. Therefore,  leaving  this  head  upon  its  crib  pillow,  let  us 
pass  to  the  fourth,  which  is  also  at  this  juncture  lying  in  the  "  arms  of 
Murphy  !  "  On  this  head,  my  dear  friends,  it  is  not  necessary  to  dilate 
at  length — it  is  getting  to  be  quite  domestic  since  Mr.  Taylor,  the 
school  lecturer,  called  heads  domes  of  thought.  This  head  had  like  to 
have  got  broken  by  a  tumble  on  the  ice  to-day,  but  fortunately 
escaped,  and  is  now  presented  for  your  edification.  By  way  of  ap- 
plication, friends,  and  not  as  a  distinct  head,  Maria  may  be  men- 
tioned. We  say,  not  as  a  distinct  head,  for  there  is  no  distinctness 
about  her  to-day,  cojtsekens  of  having  a  big  tooth  pulled  out,  and 
she  is  applying  herself  diligently  to  all  curative  measures. 

And  now,  friends,  take  heed  to  your  ways — ours  here  are  very 
slippery  since  last  night's  sleet,  so  we  walk  in  the  street,  to  keep  us 
from  falling,  upon  the  ice  sprawling.  And  therefore  we  go,  all  gen- 
tly and  slow,  from  home  to  the  college,  to  distribute  knowledge ;  and 
backward  with  speed,  to  get  our  own  feed.  So  we  live  daily,  spright- 
ly and  gayly,  merry  and  free.    Fare  ye  well.  J.  M'C. 

Professor  M'Clintock  began  the  year  1843  ^^ith  the 
same  energy  as  marked  the  close  of  1842.  He  entered 
fully  into  the  meaning  of  Goethe's  aphorism,  that  the 
day  is  long  to  him  who  knows  how  to  use  it."  Some 
illustrations  which  I  place  here  will  show  the  manner  in 
which  every  hour  was  utilized ;  they  are  not  by  any 
means  exceptional,  but  represent  his  habit  of  working : — 

Wed.,  Ja7t.  4,  1843.  Rose  at  quarter  before  seven  :  seven  to  eight, 
recited  in  Sallust ;  eight  to  nine,  breakfast,  etc. ;  nine  to  ten.  Prom. 
Vine.    Read  Mackenzie's  account  of  the  mutiny  on  board  his  ship. 


120 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


the  "  Somers,"  which  resulted  in  the  hanging  of  Spencer,  son  of  the 
Secretary  of  War,  and  his  two  associates ;  think  he  acted  Hke  a  true 
man  :  ten  to  eleven,  "  Medea  ;  "  eleven  to  twelve,  Cic,  de  Or  at  ore ;  half 
past  twelve,  studied  Greek,  etc.  Dniner,  etc.,  until  quarter  before  two; 
talked  over  Wordsworth  until  half  past  two  :  half  past  two  to  five, 
read  "  Review  of  Watson's  Institutes,"  in  Christian  Spectator,  and 
various  articles  in  the  "Foreign  Quarterly  Review."  Am  studying 
the  character  of  Goethe — a  strange  myster}'^ — but  begin  to  have  a  clew 
that  may  lead  me  out  of  the  labyrinth.  Night,  read  an  article  on 
Merck's  correspondence  in  "  Foreign  Quarterly"  for  July,  1836.  Poor 
Merck  !  Goethe  is  there  presented  in  some  rather  unlovely  aspects. 
But  what  a  soul  was  Herder's !  and  what  a  heart  was  Wieland's  ! 

Thurs.,  Jan.  5.  Rose  quarter  before  seven  :  seven  to  eight,  Sallust ; 
eight  to  nine,  breakfast,  etc.;  nine  to  ten,  read,  studied  Greek,  etc.;  ten 
to  eleven,  recited  "  Medea  ;  "  eleven  to  twelve,  read  articles  on  Greek 
histoiy,  etc.,  in  Blackwood,  volume  forty-nine  ;  twelve  to  half  past  one, 

dinner,  etc.;  half  past  one  to  half  past  tw^o,  P.  O.  A  's  Lat.  Recit., 

etc.  Continued  reading  of  "  The  Excursion."  What  power  !  What 
purity  !  W^iat  simplicity  !  What  elevation  !  What  a  contrast  to 
Goethe  —  cold,  selfish,  immovable  statue  that  he  was.  Each  had 
equanimity,  but  how  different :  the  one,  the  equanimity  of  Apollo  ; 
the  other,  of  Apollo  Belvidere  ! 

Fri.,  Jan.  6.  Finished  Austin's  "  Recollections  of  Goethe."  More 
and  more  astonishment ;  hardly  less  mystery  than  ever.  Evidently 
there  was  great  susceptibility  of  all  feelings  about  him,  and  he  de- 
termined to  control  it — succeeding  by  the  force  of  an  irresistible  and 
overpowering  will.  Finished  Prophet  Hosea — can  make  nothing 
satisfactory  out  of  him.  Great  vision  before  me,  caused  by  filling 
my  mind  up  with  Goethe  !  Let  me  imitate  him  in  steady  persever- 
ance, devotion  to  culture,  and  independence,  and  I  shall  do  well — 
nach  meuten  art. 

The  references  in  the  Diary  to  Carlyle  show  how 
deeply  he  was  stirred  by  that  eccentric,  but  most  stimu- 
lating thinker.    The  cool  estimate  of  Goethe,  Just  cited, 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


121 


was  made  soon  after  he  came  under  the  spell  of  the 
mighty  magician.  It  will  naturally  be  asked  whether 
there  was,  in  the  history  of  Professor  M'Clintock's  mind, 
as  the  result  of  his  contact  with  views  of  life,  the 
world  and  God  so  unlike  his  own,  a  period  of  unsettled 
opinion.  Did  he  pass  through  a  crisis  of  doubt,  of  dis- 
trust of  all  he  had  once  viewed  as  spiritually  true,  and 
end  by  framing  for  himself  a  new  system  of  faith?  If 
he  experienced  such  a  crisis  he  never  spoke  of  it;  he 
never  surrendered  his  hearty  trust  in  the  evangelical 
creed  to  which  he  had  committed  himself  in  early  life. 
He  had  no  occasion  to  take  down  his  theological  opinions 
once  a  month  and  label  them  with  fresh  valuations.  His 
brain  was  strong  and  steady ;  if  he  read  in  all  directions, 
and  gave  hospitable  reception  to  the  thoughts  of  all  think- 
ing men,  he  stood  firmly  on  his  own  ground.  His  ana- 
lytical faculty  was  here  of  great  service  to  him  ;  he  was 
quick  to  detect  a  fallacy,  and  w^as  not  easily  misled  by  a 
specious  proposition.  That  he  meditated  much  on  the 
problems  which  vex  the  human  soul,  his  reading  shows 
plainly  enough.  He  was  one  of  the  first  of  Americans 
to  furnish  our  country  a  full  exposition  of  the  Positive 
Philosophy,  was  a  correspondent  of  Auguste  Comte,  its 
founder,  but  was  never  so  dazzled  by  any  philosophical 
scheme  as  to  lose  the  vision  of  the  master  light  of  all 
our  seeing,"  Jesus  Christ. 

He  was  fortunate  in  having  come  early  under  the  in- 
fluence of  Coleridge,  and  had  learned  from  him  the  recon- 
ciliation of  spiritual  life  and  philosophy.  He  loved  to 
quote  to  the  young  men  who  were  interested  in  theol- 


122 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


ogy  the  sentence  with  which  Coleridge  completes  his  liter- 
ary biography,  "  that  the  scheme  of  Christianity,  though 
not  discernible  by  human  reason,  is  yet  in  accordance 
with  it ;  that  link  follows  link  by  necessary  consequence  ; 
that  religion  passes  out  of  the  ken  of  reason,  only  where 
the  eye  of  reason  has  reached  its  own  horizon,  and  that 
faith  is  then  but  its  continuation."  He  always  insist- 
ed that  a  simple,  childlike  faith  is  compatible  with  the 
largest  knowledge,  and  that  the  Christian  consciousness 
is  frequently  the  best  solvent  of  doubt.  I  find  neither 
in  his  diary  nor  in  his  letters  any  such  record  of  mental 
anguish  as  gives  a  melancholy  interest  to  the  life  of  Fred- 
erick W.  Robertson.  No  great  convulsion  wrenched  him 
from  his  old  foundations ;  he  remained  securely  in  them, 
and  built  upon  them  to  the  end  of  his  days. 

From  the  time  of  his  contact  with  Neander,  however, 
there  was  noticeable  a  quickening  of  his  confidence  in 
those  spiritual  truths  to  which  he  always  firmly  held.  In 
connexion  with  Professor  Charles  E.  Blumenthal,  he 
presented  Neander's  Life  of  Chri*st  "  in  English  dress  to 
the  American  public.  The  translation  led  to  a  corre- 
spondence, and  finally  to  a  personal  intercourse  with  the 
great  Church  historian  in  the  city  of  Berlin,  where  Pro- 
fessor M'Clintock  was  met  with  a  cordiality  and  tender- 
ness which  touched  him  very  sensibly.  He  found  in  Ne- 
ander German  learning,  coming,  after  traveling  a  wide 
circuit,  to  the  position  taken  by  Wesley,  that  Christianity 
is  more  than  all  else  a  life — that  it  is  "  a  power  which, 
as  it  is  exalted  above  all  that  human  nature  can  create 
out  of  its  own  resources,  must  change  it  from  its  inmost 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  123 

centre."'^"  Neander  was  the  pupil  of  Schleiermacher, 
who  had  in  early  life  been  educated  among  the  Moravi- 
ans. What  the  Wesleys,  and  through  them  the  English- 
speaking  races,  owed  to  Moravianism,  is  well  understood  : 
may  we  not  trace  to  the  same  fountain  the  stream  of 
Christian  teaching  which  has  done  so  much  to  quicken 
spiritual  life  on  the  continent  of  Europe  ? 

The  subject  of  our  memoir  watched  the  antislavery 
controversy  with  deep  solicitude,  and  interpreted  with 
clearest  insight  all  its  meaning.  The  slave  system  ex- 
cited in  him  intense  abhorrence;  yet  he  discriminated  be- 
tween the  system  itself  and  the  many  who  were,  without 
fault  of  their  own,  helplessly  involved  in  it.  He  saw  the 
full  import  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  as  a  slave  State, 
and  exerted  himself  to  the  utmost  to  resist  its  admission 
to  the  Union.  He  dreaded  the  consequences  which  were 
certain  to  follow  the  consummation  of  such  an  unright- 
eous measure.  For  this  reason  he  scanned  with  anxiety 
the  prospects  of  the  presidential  election  of  1844,  which 
followed  so  soon  after  our  stormy  General  Conference  of 
that  year.  To  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  E.  B.  Wakeman, 
of  Jersey  City,  he  writes:  I  shall  strain  every  nerve  to 
rebuke  this  abominable  Texas  iniquity  with  pen  and 
tongue.  The  days  of  the  Republic  are  numbered,  and 
of  right  ought  to  be,  if  by  its  means  slavery  is  extended 
one  inch,  or  prolonged  in  its  wretched  existence  one 
hour."  He  is  so  full  of  this  subject  that  he  recurs  to  it 
repeatedly:  "I  am  no  aspirant,"  he  writes  to  the  same 
correspondent,  "  for  the  honors  of  the  RepubHc,  and  may, 

*  Introduction  to  "  Neander's  General  Church  History.' 


124  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

therefore,  do  what  my  conscience  bids,  without  any  care 
for  the  smiles  or  the  frowns  of  the  sovereign  people.  I 
am  resolved  that,  hereafter,  as  far  as  my  influence  ex- 
tends, people  shall  not  be  left  in  the  dark  on  this  system 
of  slavery.  No  fear  of  running  heads  against  the  wall 
either.  There  are  walls  in  the  way  of  those  who  abstain 
from  doing  right,  as  well  as  of  those  who  lead  mankind 
into  good  paths."  He  writes  again:  ''After  all,  I  feel  it 
in  my  bones  that  I  shall  devote  a  good  part  of  my  life  to 
this  great  evil." 

By  arrangement  with  Dr.  Bond,  he  prepared,  early  in 
1847,  ^  series  of  articles  for  the  Christian  Advocate,"  in 
which  he  sought  to  animate  the  Church  to  a  more  posi- 
tive exercise  of  its  power  for  the  extirpation  of  slavery. 
In  opening  the  discussion  he  modestly  confesses  that  he 
had  before  refrained  from  it  because  of  a  distrust  of  his 
capacity  to  meddle  with  so  grave  and  difficult  a  ques- 
tion, and  his  lack  of  the  advantages  of  experience  and 
age.  "  I  am  now  inclined,"  he  adds,  ''  to  doubt  the 
validity  of  these  reasons.  I  begin  to  feel,  as  a  good 
man  in  another  hemisphere  once  expressed  hijnself,  that 
'  it  is  certain  I  shall  die,  and  I  majy  die  to-day  ;  but  it  is 
not  certain  that  I  shall  ever  be  old.'  My  testimony  may 
be  of  little  worth  to  others,  but  it  is  essential  to  my  own 
peace  of  mind  that  it  should  be  delivered."  He  acknowl- 
edges that  the  great  increase  of  antislavery  feeling  in  the 
free  States  had  been  effected  by  the  abolitionists,  and 
while  passing  criticism  upon  their  work,  as  it  then  ap- 
peared to  him,  pays  a  hearty  tribute  to  "  the  energy, 
the  almost  reckless  daring,  the  unflagging  perseverance," 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  12$ 

they  had  shown.  Yet  he  does  not  rank  himself  among 
them,  for  he  adds,  ^'  I  never  could  be  an  abolitionist 
proper,  for  I  never  could  believe  (and  never  shall,  so 
long  as  facts  that  now  exist  remain)  that  a//  slaveholders 
are  sinners,  and  should  be  cut  off  from  the  fellowship  of 
Christianity."  These  were  not  extreme  positions,  but 
they  represented  the  convictions  of  a  mind  that  honestly 
sought  the  truth,  and  aimed  to  be  just  to  all  men.  His 
sincerity  was,  soon  after  the  publication  of  these  essays, 
demonstrated  by  his  incurring  the  risk  of  fine  and  im- 
prisonment through  his  strenuous  exertions  to  help  the 
slave.  If  on  so  grave  a  theme  he  formed  his  opinions 
cautiously,  he  was  ready  when  the  time  came  to  jeopard 
all  he  held  dear  for  their  sake. 

But  this  is  anticipating  the  narrative  somewhat.  In 
the  year  1845  Professor  M'Clintock  and  the  writer  united 
in  the  preparation  of  a  series  of  Latin  and  Greek  element- 
ary books  on  the  method  of  Imitation  and  Repeti- 
tion." These  joint  labors  gave  me  the  opportunity  of  a 
close  intercourse  with  my  associate,  for  it  was  our  habit 
for  months  to  spend  the  evenings  together  from  an  early 
hour  often  till  midnight.  The  old  method  of  teaching  a 
language  by  filling  the  memory  first  with  all  its  forms 
had  been  discarded  in  the  case  of  the  modern  tongues, 
and  a  combination  of  analysis  with  synthesis  substituted. 
Under  the  new  system,  practice  in  the  use  of  each  form 
went  along  with  its  presentation.  It  had  at  that  time 
been  already  applied  in  England  to  the  Latin  and  Greek; 
the  series  which  was  published  under  our  joint  names 
was,  if  I  mistake  not,  the  first  of  the  kind  in  the  United 


126 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


States.  The  books  found  a  ready  acceptance  ;  their  plan 
has  since  become  universal ;  and,  though  thirty  years 
have  elapsed  since  the  appearance  of  the  first  volume, 
they  still  retain  an  honorable  position  in  the  schools. 

While  this  undertakingwas  in  progress,  Professor  M'Clin- 
tock,  in  connexion  with  Professor  Blumenthal,  prepared 
for  the  press,  as  already  stated,  during  the  years  1846  and 
1847,  3.  translation  of  Neander's  "Life  of  Christ."  The 
well-executed  English  edition  of  Strauss's  Life  of  Je- 
sus "  had  already  appeared  in  London  and  was  finding 
readers  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  Neander's  work, 
which,  though  not  in  form,  was,  in  fact,  a  reply,  had  the 
merit  of  breadth  of  view,  and  an  extraordinary  sagaci- 
ty in  the  interpretation  of  the  Gospel  record.  He  dif- 
fered from  Strauss,  as  a  great  lawyer  who  rests  his  case 
upon  universal  principles  differs  from  a  pettifogging  at- 
torney. The  appearance  of  this  Life "  in  English 
dress  took  Neander  by  surprise,  and  he  almost  deprecated 
the  transfer  to  America  of  the  strifes  of  German  the- 
ology. In  an  address  to  his  Christian  brethren  of  the 
United  States  he  expresses,  with  a  simplicity  and  sweet- 
ness which  are  very  beautiful,  the  fear  that  his  book  may 
lead  some  who  read  it  into  trials  of  their  faith  which  they 
are  not  able  to  bear,  and  may  awaken  questionings  which 
it  will  fail  to  answer.  A  condensed  history  of  the  ra- 
tionalistic and  mythical  schools  of  Scripture  interpreta- 
tion was  prefixed  by  Dr.  M'Clintock,  which  placed  the 
reader  in  a  position  to  understand  the  exact  state  of  the 
whole  controversy. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


127 


LETTERS  FROM  JUNE,  1840,  TO  MARCH,  1847. 
I. 

Carlisle,  Jane  23,  1S40. 

Dear  Robert  : — Your  whole  establishment  is  now  broken  ap 
here,  root  and  branch,  and  the  name  of  Emory  is  no  longer  among 
the  names  of  CarUsle.  The  example  is  a  bad  one — at  least  the  dis- 
ease is  catching,  for  Mrs.  M'C.  and  myself  are  both  getting  full  of  the 
notion  of  trying  the  itinerancy  again,  especially  since  my  effort  of 
last  Sunday,  which  went  far  beyond  my  own  expectations.  I  preached 
for  an  hour  and  ten  minutes,  with  but  little  inconvenience  at  the 
time,  and  no  ill  effect  since,  except  a  trifling  dryness  of  the  throat. 
The  mercy  of  God  is  indeed  greater  to  me  than  I  had  hoped  ;  and  I 
begin  now  to  cherish  a  pretty  sanguine  expectation  that  I  shall  yet 
again  be  able  to  preach  regularly,  as  of  old.  My  sensations  on  com- 
mencing to  preach  were  not  a  little  strange.  I  had  laid  aside  my  com- 
mission, closed  my  accounts,  and  thought  my  work  was  done ;  it 
was  like  beginning  a  new  life.    God  be  praised  for  all  his  goodness  ! 

Professor  Emoky. 

II. 

Monday.  Janiuinj  24,  1S41. 

Dear  Robert  : — I  do  not  believe  a  word  of  Macaulay's  doctrine 
that  the  times  make  the  man.  Did  they  make  Shakspeare,  or  Milton, 
or  Goethe  ?  His  whole  doctrine  of  poetry  being  only  an  imitative 
art,  and  therefore  finding  its  most  congenial  soil  in  an  uncultivated 
age,  seems  to  me  to  be  contradicted  by  all  experience.  The  reason- 
ing that  is  brought  to  sustain  it  is  d  priori,  and  one  chapter  of 
facts  destroys  it.  Man  talks  figuratively,  it  is  true,  in  early  periods, 
but  that  is  a  very  different  thing  from  making  poetr}'.  To  say  that 
striking,  physical  images  make  more  impression  upon  a  rude  people 
than  upon  a  cultivated  race  is  one  thing  ;  to  say  that  true  poetr)^  is, 
therefore,  more  likely  to  exist  among  the  former  is  quite  another. 
There  is  no  logical  connexion  in  the  argument,  and,  as  I  have  said,  it 
seems  to  me  that  the  facts  are  all  the  other  way.    I  cannot  believe 


1-28 


LIFE  AND  .LETTERS  OF 


that  a  man  must  be  half  a  savage  or  a  maniac  before  he  can  be  all  a 
poet.  Macaulay  talks  of  poetry  in  that  essay  and  elsewhere  as  if  its 
very  trade  were  deception — that  it  has  no  business  with  reality,  and 
that  to  enjoy  its  delights  one  must  surrender  his  mind  to  the  delusions 
of  fiction  ;  whereas  its  object — more  decidedly,  perhaps,  than  we  can 
say  of  any  other  branch  of  literature — is  to  preserve  and  teach  the 
highest  truth.  But  I  must  not  run  on  with  this  trash.  I  have  got 
into  the  strain  of  my  recent  lecture  on  "  Love  of  Truth,"  and  shall 
expend  a  good  deal  of  it  on  you  if  I  do  not  haul  off. 

I  see  that  I  have  run  against  a  snag  in  the  last  part  of  your 
Christmas  letter  :  "Is  it  desirable  to  have  the  feelings  of  a  child 
with  the  body  and  the  mind  of  a  man  ?  "  Do  you  recollect  the  opening 
lines  of  Wordsworth's  poem,  which  contain  the  germ  of  his  whole 
doctrine  of  human  life — "  My  heart  leaps  up  when  I  behold  ?  "  etc. 
Just  look  at  them.  Then  read  his  magnificent  ode  on  "  Intimations 
of  Immortality  from  the  Recollections  of  Childhood  " — "  Shades  of  the 
prison-house  close  about "  us  all  only  too  soon.  Says  Coleridge, 
"  To  carry  on  the  feelings  of  childhood  into  the  power  of  manhood  ;  to 
combine  the  child's  sense  of  wonder  and  novelty  with  the  appearances 
which  every  day,  for  perhaps  forty  years,  had  rendered  familiar — 

" '  With  sun  and  moon  and  stars  throughout  the  year, 
And  man  and  woman 

this  is  the  character  and  privilege  of  genius."  Is  it  not  desirable, 
then,  if  Coleridge  be  right.'* 

The  "  Quarterly  " — I  am  happy  to  find  that  my  share  in  it  meets 
with  considerable  approbation.  The  article  has  had  an  unusual  share 
even  of  Methodist  laudation.  Was  I  just  in  criticising  your  style  ? 
Was  .it  too  harsh  to  say  that  it  is  not  elega7it  ?  Sometimes  I  think  it 
was  not  best  for  me  to  have  said  so  ;  but  I  think  it  true  on  the  whole. 
What  think  you  ?  It  seems  to  me  you  do  not  write  enough,  and  do 
not  labor  sufficiently  to  polish  what  you  do  write.  Is  it  true?  If 
not,  correct  me  ;  if  it  is,  mend.  Dear  Robert,  it  seems  to  me  that 
the  Church  can  do  only  one  thing  in  regard  to  so  heinous  a  crime 
as  slaverv,  namely,  to  bear  her  testimony  against  it,  and  use  all  her 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


129 


influence  for  its  extirpation.  Is  it  not  so  ?  And  will  not  God's  curse 
come  upon  us  if,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  we  sanction  slavery.? 
A  little  more  folly  on  the  part  of  the  South,  such  as  the  unlawful, 
abominable  treatment  of  Mr.  Torrey  at  Annapolis,  will  make  the 
North  abolitionist  throughout.  We  have  tampered  with  the  evil  too 
long  already.  Our  Church  has  been  quoted  in  favor  of  slavery,  I 
fear  with  too  much  truth.  The  first  thing'  to  be  done  is  to  be  honest 
and  God  will  take  care  of  us.  The  expediency  will  follow.  Give  me 
your  views  of  the  doings  of  the  convention  and  of  Torrey's  arrest. 

My  health  is  improving,  but  I  am  absolutely  overpowered  with 
work.  I  trust  you  will  be  with  us  in  April.  My  heart  yearns  for 
your  coming.  I  pray  that  Providence  may  open  the  way  fully,  and 
that  you  may  come.  I  long  to  be  comforted  by  your  presence  and 
strengthened  by  your  faith.  I  long  for  the  face  of  a  friend  into  whose 
eyes  I  can  look  and  see  no  darkness.  I  think  I  have  told  you  before 
that  your  only  fault  is,  in  my  mind,  that  you  have  not  affection 
enough ;  but  I  trust,  if  you  come  here,  to  make  you  love  me  to  my 
heart's  content,  even  on  the  principle  of  gratitude.  God  grant  that 
you  may  come ! 

Professor  Emoey. 

III. 

A  CONFESSION  OF  FAITH. 

Carlisle,  Februarf/,  1S41. 

I  believe  and  therefore  speak.  So  said  St.  Paul,  and  so  say  I. 
Don't  ask  me  what  I  know,  for  I  know  nothing  that  is  not  grounded 
at  bottom  upon  a  simple  act  of  belief.  The  man  who  talks  about 
understanding  his  nature  or  his  destiny  may  be  very  wise,  but 
either  he  or  I  must  be  a  madman.  Your  letter  shows  no  feelings  or 
thoughts,  I  believe,  that  have  not  formed  part  of  my  own  experience. 
You  need  not  think  you  are  alone  in  such  things.  They  form  no  part 
of  my  present  existence.  Why  ?  Because  I  have  reasoned  myself  out 
of  them  ?  Nay,  I  should  have  reasoned  myself  into  Bedlam  first,  but 
because  I  have  rested  myself  in  simple  trust — so  simple  that  any  child 
might  exercise  it,  yet  so  profound  that  all  philosophy  cannot  fathom 


I30  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

it — upon  the  Great  Divine  Man,  the  pattern  of  purity  and  sorrow, 
Jesus  Christ,  the  only  perfect  being  of  whom  I  have  heard  in  the  whole 
histor)-  of  the  world.  I  have  no  other  secret  to  impart.  I  believe  in 
Jesus  Christ.  Am  I  tempted  ?  so  was  he  ;  I  resist,  and  there  is  no  sin. 
Have  I  suffered  ?  so  has  he,  who  glorified  sorrow  in  his  life  and  death. 
Pain  is  not  evil,  pleasure  is  not  good  ;  faith  alone  is  good,  and  sin,  or 
unbelief,  alone  is  evil.  Such  is  my  simple  creed  ;  all  the  universe 
could  not  drive  me  from  it.  All  bastard  philosophy  (and  God  knows 
I  have  pestered  my  brains  with  it  as  much  as  most  men)  cannot 
shake  it.  No  temptation  can  overturn  it,  or  overcome  me  so  long  as 
I  abide  in  it.  Do  you  ask  whether  this  belief  has  saved  me  ?  It  has. 
How  ?  All  I  know  about  it  is  expressed  in  these  words :  it  is  the 
power  of  God  unto  salvation  for  all  them  that  believe.  That  is  all  I 
know  about  it.  How  do  I  know  that  I  am  saved,  then  ?  Why, 
thus :  If  I  relax  this  faith  an  hour,  the  universe  becomes  a  shoreless, 
crazy  whirpool,  and  my  brain  runs  giddy  as  I  look  into  it.  Look  into 
it  I  must,  for  I  am  in  the  midst  of  it.  But  with  this  faith  that  uni- 
verse is  for  me  a  firm,  rock-built  city — d.  dwelling  for  my  soul.  All 
the  discords,  dissonances,  the  mad  storm  of  human  voices,  the  angry 
curses  of  guilty  men,  the  inarticulate  wail  of  wide-spread  anguish, 
the  noise  of  wars  and  murders  ;  think  you  that  I  have  no  ear  to  hear 
these  things  ?  I  do  hear  them,  and  I  feel  that  they  would  drive  me 
mad  almost  if  I  did  not  believe.  The  image  of  Christ  rises  up  be- 
fore me,  pure,  perfect,  mild,  serene,  sorrowful,  yet  with  power  be- 
yond all  else  that  I  can  conceive.  It  is  the  image  of  God.  My  sal- 
vation beams  from  those  gentle  eyes  ;  it  is  spoken  from  every  linea- 
ment of  that  placid  countenance.  Look  upon  him,  my  brother,  and 
see  how  mildly  and  kindly,  with  sweet  tones,  sad  yet  earnest,  he  asks 
you  to  give  over  your  vain  strivings  and  rest  in  him.  Look  upon  him 
and  you  are  saved. 

Some  people  think  religion  is  a  kind  of  bargain-and-sale  business, 
a  barter  of  so  much  happiness  in  this  life  for  so  much  in  the  next ;  a 
mere  working  for  wages,  not  deep,  inward,  heart-subduing  reverence, 
but  a  low,  sordid  hope  of  advantage  or  fear  of  pain.  And  yet  they 
recognise  Christ  as  the  m.odel  of  religion.    Just  think  for  a  moment 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


how  widely  different  all  this  is  from  his  character,  and  you  will  see 
how  deeply  they  have  sunk  below  the  purity  of  his  faith.  What  ad- 
vantage did  Christ  look  for  ?  What  could  he  look  for  }  What  pain 
had  he  not  to  fear  }  I  tell  you  honestly  that  I  see  but  little  of  the 
faith  of  which  I  speak  among  men.  Many  substitute  the  vulgar  mo- 
tives to  which  I  have  just  alluded  in  its  stead.  Many  have  their  pal- 
try souls  crammed  full  of  cant  and  hypocrisy.  What  of  all  this  I 
know  that  I  believe  ;  I  know  that  my  religion  is  not  cant.  I  am  de- 
termined to  be  honest  for  myself ;  I  believe  and  therefore  speak.  So 
much  I  had  written  when  I  received  yours  of  yesterday.  I  have  not 
time  to  add  more  without  losing  the  mail.  Read  that  beautiful  parting 
address  of  Christ  contained  in  the  fourteenth,  fifteenth,  and  sixteenth 
chapters  of  John.  Recollect  his  words  recorded  in  Matt,  xi,  28 : 
"  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give 
you  rest."  Nowhere  else  can  rest  be  obtained.  Take  those  sweet 
words  to  your  heart  in  simple  confidence  and  all  will  be  well.  I 
shall  write  again  to-night  or  in  the  morning.  My  mind  is  cleared, 
my  heart  is  freed,  not  because  I  am  free  from  care — I  am  full  of  it — 
but  because  I  believe.  God  bless  you  !  and  may  your  mind  be  set  free 
when  you  read  these  lines.  Believe  and  it  shall  be  done  to  you. 
You  will  find  in  the  end,  as  I  have  found,  in  the  language  of  the 
French  philosopher,  Cousin,  that  Christianity  is  the  perfection  of 
reason. 

Mr.  Pv.  B.  M'CLINTOCK. 

IV. 

"Faculty  meeting,  Wednesday  night,  March  2,  1842:  Resolved, 
that  Rev.  Robert  Emory  be  requested  to  deliver  the  Baccalaureate 
Address  to  the  graduating  class  at  the  ensuing  Commencement." 

Carlisle,  March  5,  1842. 

Dear  Robert  : — The  prime  object  of  this  letter  is  to  request 
your  compliance  with  the  above  resolution.  Professor  Caldwell  is 
unable  to  perform  the  duty,  and  the  faculty  unanimously  and  ear- 
nestly desire  you  to  do  it.  Please  signify  your  assent  at  your  ear- 
liest convenience.    You  have  not  yet  answered  my  last  letter.  I 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


see  that  some  of  the  obnoxious  slaver)^  laws  have  passed  your  House 
of  Delegates,  but  have  not  learned  yet  whether  they  have  gone  through 
the  Senate.  In  the  order  of  Providence  all  this  will  doubtless  issue 
in  good.  One  good  thing  it  will  do  ;  bring  out  the  real  proslavery 
men  of  Maryland  so  that  the  world  can  see  their  position.  And  the 
world  will  drive  them  from  it.  It  seems  to  me  that  the  doom  of 
slavery  is  sealed.  A  great  apostle  of  liberty  ought  to  rise  up,  doubt- 
less w^ill  rise  up,  in  the  country,  and  immortalize  himself  as  the  leader 
of  this  great  work.  Who  shall  he  be  ?  Is  there  danger  of  much  ex- 
citement in  your  city  or  State  on  the  subject  ?  If  any  proceedings  of 
interest  occur,  please  send  me  the  newspapers  that  may  publish  them, 
as  I  get  none  from  Baltimore. 

I  was  preparing  an  article  on  Prometheus  for  the  April  number  of 
the  "Quarterly,"  but  have  given  it  up,  finding  that  I  cannot  make  it 
suitable  for  the  journal  without  detracting  from  its  literary  character 
to  too  great  an  extent.  I  purpose  now  preparing  one  on  the  "  Meth- 
odist Itinerancy,"  to  show  what  it  is,  and  what  conservative,  evil,  and 
destructive  elements  enter  into  its  composition.  Do  not  all  machiner- 
ies contain  within  themselves  the  seeds  of  dissolution  ?  Or,  to  make 
the  figure  better,  will  not  all  machines  wear  out  in  time  ?  Have  not 
all  such  worn  out  in  the  histor)'  of  the  race  ?  What  one  has  been  per- 
manent ?  Is  our  itinerancy  mechanical,  and  therefore  self-destructive  ? 
Or  is  it  a  providential  institution — spiritual — and  therefore  endowed 
with  life  ?  I  now  incline  rather  to  the  former  opinion,  but  know  not 
what  issue  my  study  of  the  subject  may  lead  to.  How  does  your  life 
of  Asbury  get  on  ?  I  suppose  this  slavery  affair  is  occupying  atten- 
tion. If  you  can  come  at  Carlyle's  "Essays,"  read,  in  volume  four, 
the  review  of  "Walter  Scott's  Life,"  and  of  Varnhagen  von  Ense's 
"Memories,"  for  some  strange  views  on  the  subject  of  biography; 
also  volume  three,  the  essays  on  "Biography"  and  on  Boswell's 
"  Johnson."  If  you  have  not  read  them,  do  so  before  you  write  more 
of  your  biography.  The  man  is  a  wonderful  thinker,  honest  withal, 
as  few  review  writers  are  ;  indeed,  any  other  writers  in  these  times. 
You  will  find  more  gold  in  him  than  in  Macaulay.  This  last  seems 
to  me  always  to  write  as  a  partisan — no  matter  what  the  subject  may 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


be — his  erudition  is  greater  than  his  judgment  or  taste.    But  he  is 
unquestionably  one  of  the  strongest  writers  of  the  age — not,  however, 
a  philosopher. 
Professor  Emory. 

V. 

Jersey  City,  A  ugust  18,  1843. 

Now  for  letter.  They  were  much  disappointed  in  not  seeing  you 
at  Middletown.  Professor  Lane  and  his  wife  entertained  us  during 
our  stay  there.  We  had  invitations  to  dinner  and  tea  more  than  we 
could  dispose  of  during  our  stay.  Indeed,  the  hospitality  of  the 
friends  at  M.  was  unbounded.  Our  visit  was  as  pleasant  as  we  ever 
had  anywhere.  Dr.  Bond's  speech  came  off  on  Tuesday  night  to  a 
fine  audience.  Emory's  oration  was  the  best  thing  I  have  ever 
heard  from  him,  and  gave  universal  satisfaction.  Everybody  was 
delighted.  Olin  came  with  us  to  New  York,  and  he.  Dr.  Peck,  and  I, 
went  in  company  to  Wilkesbarre.  I  do  not  think  I  was  ever  so 
much  taken  with  a  man  as  with  Dr.  O.  His  mind  is  of  a  high  order, 
well  cultivated,  and  furnished  with  various  knowledge.  His  exten- 
sive travels  have  freed  him  from  local  prejudices  and  narrow  views. 
He  is  deeply  pious,  but  entirely  destitute  of  cant.  His  manner  is 
free  and  his  affections  ardent,  and  he  makes  no  kind  of  attempt  to 
conceal  them.  Playful  to  a  remarkable  extent,  and  fond  of  fun  and 
pleasantry  as  even  I  myself,  he  never  violates  propriety  or  loses  real 
dignity.  Of  what  is  commonly  considered  dignity  he  is  utterly  des- 
titute. I  was  with  him  day  and  night  for  better  than  a  week,  and 
found  him  all  that  I  have  stated  above,  and  more  too.  We  reached 
Wilkesbarre  on  Thursday  night,  and  found  Conference  in  full  tide. 
The  time  was  so  taken  up  that  I  can  hardly  give  you  any  account  of 
it.  Our  old  friends  there  all  treated  me  with  the  greatest  kindness, 
and  asked  a  great  deal  about  you.  Dr.  Olin  preached  on  Sunday 
morning  to  an  immense  audience,  and  with  great  effect.  I  never 
knew  any  man  combine  such  powerful  feelings  with  clear  judgment 
and  sound  sense.  He  becomes  intensely  excited,  and  his  physical 
frame,  from  the  top  of  his  head  to  his  toes,  sympathizes  with  the  ex- 
citement.    He  is  no  orator,  but  remarkably  eloquent.     We  left 


134 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


Wilkesbarre  on  Tuesday,  went  through  the  most  romantic  regions  I 
ever  saw  to  Mauch  Chunk,  Tamaqua,  and  Reading,  and  reached 
Philadelphia  on  Wednesday  at  one  o'clock. 

When  will  you  return  ?  We  expect  to  leave  here  next  Thursday 
or  Friday  for  Philadelphia,  stay  there  a  week,  and  then  back  to  Car- 
lisle again.  Indeed,  we  are  getting  anxious  to  see  the  valley  and  our 
old  friends  again  once  more.  And  then  we  shall  have  Dr.  Durbin 
along  with  us  too,  full  of  information,  talk,  and  pleasant  incident.  I 
hope  you  have  enjoyed  yourselves  highly,  and  that  your  health  is 
very  much  improved  by  your  trip. 

Professor  M.  Caldwell. 

VL 

Carlisle,  October  31,  1S44. 

Dear  Dr.  : — Yours  of  the  28th  was  brought  to  me  last  night  as  I 
lay  in  bed,  and  although  I  was  in  much  pain  of  body,  it  really  made 
me  forget  my  ailments,  for  awhile  at  least.  I  feel  better  to-day,  and 
have  got  out  of  bed  mainly  to  write  this  letter.  Your  severe  intro- 
duction is  meant  as  a  facetious  way  of  excusing  yourself,  I  suppose, 
for  not  answering  my  last  epistle.  Perhaps,  however,  you  never  re- 
ceived it.  Of  one  thing  you  may  be  assured,  that  I  wrote  you  a  long 
letter  in  reply  to  your  last,  and  have  since  heard  nothing  from  you 
until  last  night.  I  have  been  working  pretty  hard,  but  not  at  any 
thing  which  will  bring  me  either  honor  or  reputation,  at  least  for 
awhile.  My  time  is  principally  taken  up  with  a  species  of  literary 
labor  which  I  don't  fancy  much,  but  which  brings  me  in  money,  a 
thing  that  I  am  now  very  much  in  need  of.  Misfortunes  of  friends 
have  stripped  me  pretty  bare,  and  I  must,  at  least  for  a  time,  work 
for  money  only.  I  trust  the  degrading  necessity  will  soon  be  re- 
moved. You  see  that  we  all  have  our  embarrassments.  You,  it  ap- 
pears, must  drudge  for  money  to  put  the  University  on  its  legs  ;  and 
I,  to  pay  other  people's  debts.  After  all,  if  good  is  done,  it  is,  perhaps, 
as  well.    I  trust  your  plans  will  all  be  successfully  accomplished. 

The  University  must  be  sustained  !  But  it  is  a  great  pity  that  it 
was  not  originally  placed  on  the  North  River,  and  our  establishment 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


nevei  started  at  all.  At  present,  I  believe,  we  are  on  a  better  footing 
than  you  in  money  matters,  and  in  all  other  respects  at  least  equal ; 
but  then  neither  of  us  is  any  thing.    As  for  Church  matters,  we  don't 

all  think  alike  here.    I  deprecated  the  publication  of  's  article. 

It  smacks  too  much  of  policy  for  my  taste :  the  same  shallow  expe- 
diency which  {pace  your  vote)  displayed  itself  so  painfully  in  the  ac- 
tion of  the  late  General  Conference.  People  can  see  through  all  this. 
The  South  will  accept  no  such  compromise,  and  it  is  only  treasuring 
up  for  ourselves,  as  you  say,  trouble  for  the  future  to  agitate  such 
projects.  I  have  restrained  myself  from  writing  on  the  subject  with 
much  difficulty  ;  but  it  is  best.  We  do  not  believe  here  that  any  com- 
promise will  be  effected.  The  South  will  go  off.  If  I  see  any  dan- 
ger of  a  compromise,  I  must  write  and  speak  against  it.  I  shall  burst 
if  I  don't,  as  Dr.  Arnold  used  to  say.  It  would  be  far  better  to  let 
Maryland  and  Virginia  go,  and  to  keep  the  whole  North  united  on  an 
antislavery  basis — the  true  basis  for  northern  people.  I  am  more 
and  more  disposed  to  believe,  that  if  the  curse  of  slavery  is  ever  re- 
moved from  us  it  must  be  by  other  people  than  slaveholders,  and  I 
do  not  intend  to  be  backward  hereafter  in  enlightening  the  people  of 
these  parts  on  the  subject.  That  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
slaveholders  should  rule  this  great  empire  is  a  thing  not  to  be  en- 
dured— and  it  can't  be  endured  much  longer. 

The  Kev.  Dr.  Olix. 

VII. 

PiiiLATiEi.rmA,  July  27, 1S46. 

My  dear  Friend  : — Instead  of  meeting  you  in  London,  as  I  kept 
hoping  and  expecting  until  the  steamer  of  the  15th  started,  I  am  here 
in  Yankeedom  still.  I  had  made  up  my  mind  again  to  go,  on  the 
very  last  night,  and  had  the  money  in  my  pocket — my  wife,  too,  was 
packing  up  my  trunk — but,  after  all,  my  sense  of  duty  prevailed  over 
my  selfish  desires  to  gratify  myself,  and  I  determined  to  remain  at 
home.  The  reason  that  has  prevailed  upon  me  all  along  is  such  as 
you  would  approve,  and  my  own  conscience  is  easier  here  than  it 
could  have  been  if  I  had  crossed  the  water. 


136 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


You  cannot  imagine  how  glad  I  was  in  reading,  by  chance,  the 
other  day,  a  letter  from  Mr.  Richardson,  in  Paris,  to  Professor  Alle  i, 
to  find  mention  of  you  and  Mrs.  Olin.  It  set  me  off  to  Versailles  with 
you  at  once,  and  I  traveled  round  with  you  on  all  the  trip  which  the 
letter  referred  to  quite  joyously.  Indeed,  I  had  a  very  cheerful 
dream  of  it  for  awhile,  and  think  there  must  be  something  in  animal 
magnetism,  especially  if  I  could  learn  that  you  had  thought  of  me  at 
all  that  day.  You  may  rest  assured  of  one  thing,  that  nobody  in 
America  has  thought  more,  and  more  affectionately,  about  you  since 
you  left  our  shores,  I  left  home  on  Saturday,  25th  inst.,  my  wife  not 
xery  well,  and  children  all  well.  Preached  here  twice  yesterday,  and 
feel  very  well  and  very  happy  this  morning — quite  as  happy,  at  least, 
as  can  be,  seeing  that  I  am  ^ere  and  not  f/icre.  Don't  suppose  that 
I  am  discontented  about  it,  however,  for  I  am  not.  You  recollect 
stopping  with  me  here  at  my  sister's  on  the  day  that  we  arrived  in 
the  cars  from  Pottsville,  after  that  momentous  journey  to  the  Oneida 
Conference.  Well,  I  am  sitting  again  in  the  same  long  parlor,  with 
the  same  good  sisters  about  me,  who  beg  me  to  give  their  love  to 
Dr.  Olin. 

Professor  Johnston  is  about  to  go  West,  and  promises  to  call  on  us 
at  Carlisle  on  his  way.  I  shall  spend  the  vacation  (after  next  week) 
at  home,  pruning  my  trees  and  flowers,  playing  with  my  children, 
listening  to  my  wife  talk,  and  working  in  my  study.  Don't  you  envy 
me?  All  the  pleasure  wont  be  yours,  after  all.  I  pray  God  that 
you  may  be  very  happy,  however,  and  that  your  health  may  be  great- 
ly built  up  by  your  voyage.  And  now  good-bye,  and  graciously  per- 
mit me  to  write  a  line  to  Mrs.  Olin,  who  bore  so  kindly  with  my 
stupidity  in  those  sleepy  days  when  I  was  with  you  in  Middletown. 

May  God  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping,  and  return  you  to  us  with 
renewed  health  and  vigor  ! 

Eev.  Dr.  Olin. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


VIII. 

ON  THE  FORMATION  OF  AN  AMERICAN  BRANCH  OF   THE  EVAN- 
GELICAL ALLIANCE. 

Philadelphia,  December  31.  1S46. 

My  Dear  Friend  :- -Your  letter  of  23d  ult.  has  remained  un- 
answered much  longer  than  my  feelings  or  wishes  themselves  would 
have  dictated.  But  I  have  good  reasons.  I  needed  long  and  anxious 
meditation  upon  the  subject  of  your  letter,  and  upon  the  views  which 
you  entertain  in  regard  to  it,  before  I  could  answer  you  ;  and  besides, 
I  have  been  for  the  last  six  weeks  or  more  in  a  state  of  mental  torpor, 
the  like  of  which  I  have  never  felt  before.  In  your  varied  experience 
you  may  have  known  the  same — an  utter  distaste  for  thought  or  labor, 
constituting,  indeed,  an  absolute  incapacity  for  either ;  a  disposition 
to  sit  listless  and  brooding  through  the  livelong  day,  and  to  lie  wake- 
ful, yet  useless,  almost  through  the  night.  Within  a  day  or  two  I 
feel  some  return  of  the  powers  of  life,  and  almost  the  first  real  thing 
I  do  is  to  answer  your  letter.  Not  that  it  is  any  labor  to  write  to 
you.  Indeed,  had  not  the  subject  of  your  letter  been  so  grand  and 
absorbing  I  should  doubtless  have  found  some  comfort,  or  at 
least  got  rid  of  some  of  my  discomfort,  in  writing.  But  the  question 
of  the  Alliance,  and  the  dark  one  that  lies  beyond  it,  is  enough  to  give 
pause  to  the  strongest  mind,  in  the  exercise  of  its  fullest  powers  ;  and 
you  cannot  wonder  that  I  have  staggered  under  it,  with  the  pressure 
of  sorrowful  and  morbid  feelings  upon  me.  Before  I  say  more,  let  me 
assure  you — though,  indeed,  I  think  the  assurance  can  hardly  be  neces- 
sary— that  there  is  no  man  living  whose  friendship  I  value  more,  and 
whose  opinions  I  would  more  gladly  take  upon  trust,  than  your  own. 
So  cordial  is  my  regard  for  you,  and,  at  the  same  time,  so  thorough 
my  respect  for  your  intellect  and  judgment,  that  I  can,  with  reluct- 
ance, bring  myself  to  differ  from  you  at  all.  I  am  not  sure  that  in 
the  present  instance  I  differ  from  you  so  very  widely  ;  but  you  will 
pardon  me,  I  know,  for  freely  expressing  my  real  sentiments. 

The  object  of  the  "Alliance"  is  to  secure,  as  you  state,  a  larger 


138 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


Christian  union  than  now  exists.  The  Conference  was  held  in  London 
(not  in  New  York  or  Charleston)  for  this  purpose,  and  delegates 
were  there  from  all  Christendom.  If  we  form  an  organization  next 
spring,  it  must  be  for  the  same  purpose  as  that  which  was  aimed  at 
in  London,  viz.,  not  mere  affiliations  of  Christians  in  separate  countries 
into  separate  connexions,  but  a  general  union  of  Christians  in  all 
lands.  Now,  in  one  word,  can  that  object  be  accomplished  by  form- 
ing an  Alliance  for  this  country,  freely  admitting  slaveholders  ?  Could 
such  an  organization  hold  any  connexion  with  the  European  branches 
Nay,  would  it  not  cut  off  effectually,  for  many  years,  if  not  forever, 
the  possibility  of  the  general  Christian  union  to  which  we  all  look, 
and  for  the  promotion  of  which  the  Conference  met  in  London.^  If 
the  object,  then,  as  you  say,  be  to  promote  general  Christian  union, 
should  not  those  who  wish  to  retain  slaveholders  indiscriminately 
hesitate  a  little  All  that  you  say  goes  to  show,  (and,  perhaps,  in  that 
you  are  correct,)  that  so  far  as  the  American  branch  goes,  it  would  be 
larger  for  the  admission  of  slaveholders.  But  would  not  the  General 
Alliance  be  effectually  killed  ?    If  it  would  not,  I  am  in  error. 

I  must  say,  I  go  rather  for  the  general  alliance  of  Christendom 
than  for  the  special  union  of  American  Christians,  And  I  am  in- 
clined to  hope  that  even  this  last  would  follow,  in  the  course  of  years, 
a  union  founded  on  an  antislavery  basis  rather  than  the  opposite.  All 
this  time  I  have  not  alluded  to  the  moral  aspect  of  the  question — the 
right  or  wrong  of  the  admission  of  slaveholders — because  your  letter 
puts  the  main  stress  upon  the  practicability  of  the  alliance.  May  it  not 
all  be  summed  up  in  the  question.  Is  a  general  alliance  of  Christians 
practicable  if  the  American  branch  admits  slaveholders  indiscrimi- 
nately ?  I  have  totally  misunderstood  the  English  feeling  if  it  is.  All 
the  papers  that  I  have  received  from  England  confirm  me  more  and 
more  in  the  opinion  that  if  we  receive  slaveholders  on  the  same  foot- 
ing as  others  we  shall  stand  alone,  and  that  they  expect  antislavery 
action  from  the  American  branch  next  spring.  Were  not  induce- 
ments to  this  expectation  held  out  by  some  of  the  Americans  in  Lon- 
don ?  Was  not  a  good  deal  said,  and  more  implied,  as  to  the  possi- 
I  ility  of  meeting  this  question  better  in  hjew  York  than  in  London, 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


and  of  meeting  it  better,  too,  without  the  trammels  of  English  dicta- 
tion than  with  them  ? 

Perhaps  in  all  this  I  am  influenced  by  my  feelings.  To  tell  the 
truth,  my  abhorrence  of  slavery  grows  apace.  Year  after  year  I  feel 
more  and  more  that  something  should  be  done  by  every  good  man  in 
this  land  to  deliver  it.  It  may  be  that  the  dark  subject  dims  my  vis- 
ion. I  hope  not.  One  needs  all  his  eyesight  to  deal,  with  overgrown 
evils.  But  I  cannot  stifle  my  convictions  ;  I  cannot  down  with  them, 
even  at  my  own  bidding.  Yet  I  am  no  abolitionist  in  one  sense  of 
the  word.  I  do  not  believe  that  all  slaveholders  are  sinners  ;  I  know 
that  some  of  them  are  pious  men,  so  far  as  human  judgment  can  go, 
and  I  would  not  harm  them,  even  in  my  thoughts,  for  the  world.  I 
pity  them.  But  their  hapless  condition  must  not  entrap  our  judg- 
ment by  attracting  our  sympathies.  If  they  must  suffer  I  can  pray 
for  them,  but  cannot  stop  the  progress  of  the  ark  of  God  to  still  their 
groans.  But  O  !  what  a  sad  subject  it  is.  Even  writing  to  you  in 
quietness,  I  find  my  heart  beating  violently  with  agitation.  To-night, 
at  least,  I  can  dwell  on  it  no  more.  God  have  mercy  upon  us,  and 
upon  our  favored  but  guilty  country  !  I  trust  him  still,  but  I  could 
not  trust  him  if  1  did  not  follow  my  honest  convictions.  Wrong  they 
viay  be  ;  but  wrong  I  mi(s^  be  if  I  do  not  act  upon  them,  or,  at  least, 
if  I  act  against  them.  God  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping,  my  cherished 
and  valued  friend  !  Good-night. 

Rev.  Dr.  Olin. 

IX. 

Carlisle,  Mtrc?i  21,  1S47. 
Dear  Mrs.  Olin  : — An  apology  for  not  writing  to  you,  on  my 
part,  would  be  out  of  place,  for  more  reasons  than  one.  You  cannot, 
in  the  nature  of  the  case,  care  enough  about  it  to  require  one,  and  I 
cannot  presume  enough  upon  my  relation  to  you  to  conceive  even 
that  it  is  necessary.  But  I  am  simply  about  to  say  that  I  have  a  sort 
of  nervous  timidity  about  it — partly  bashfulness,  and  partly  vanity, 
doubtless  ;  so  that  the  less  I  say  about  it  the  better.  I  wrote  some 
time  since  to  Dr.  Olin,  but  have  received  no  answer ;  and  I  have  had 
.so  many  proofs  of  his  kindness  that  I  cannot  attribute  his  silence  to 


140 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


any  other  cause  than  illness,  though  I  have  heard  nothing  directly  to 
that  effect.  I  now  feel  that  I  cannot  rest  quietly  any  longer,  and  I 
must  beg  of  you  to  let  me  know  about  him  and  yourself. 

A  few  nights  ago  I  sat,  in  a  moment  of  rest  from  writing,  thinking 
of  many  things,  but  most,  of  my  friends.  One  of  those  overmaster- 
ing impulses  that  come  upon  us  sometimes  so  irresistibly  (at  least  it 
is  so  with  me — is  it  not  so  with  you?)  seized  and  carried  me  off  to 
Middletown.  I  turned  around  and  told  Mrs.  M'C.  that  I  thought 
I  imcst  spend  our  week  of  vacation  in  a  trip  to  visit  you,  and  she 
echoed  the  must  very  energetically.  So  you  see  that  I  secured  at 
once,  not  only  the  royal  permission,  but  command,  to  do  what  1 
most  longed  to  do.  And  why  not  }  Alas  !  that  we  are  of  the  earth, 
earthly  !  Alas  !  that  our  purest  wishes  and  best  affections  should 
be  at  the  mercy  of  so  paltry  and  so  base  a  thing — but  the  truth  must 
be  told  ;  the  res  angusta  domi  has  nipped  many  a  fine  project  in  the 
bud,  and  it  cut  off  this  one  of  mine  even  before  the  first  sprout  be- 
gan to  appear.  I  imtst  go  to  New  York,  I  suppose,  in  May,  at  the 
time  of  the  Alliance  Convention,  and  my  purse  is  not  deep  enough 
to  hold  money  for  the  two  journeys— or,  if  it  is,  I  have  not  got  it  to 
put  in.  So  I  must  put  up  with  a  disappointment — self-made,  to  be 
sure,  but  none  tl>e  less  poignant  and  painful  on  that  account. 

I  have  often  wondered  what  temptation  would  be  strong  enough 
to  bring  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Olin  out  to  the  "  crassa  Bceotia  of  Pennsyl- 
vania Dutchmen,"  as  the  gentle  Professor  ,  in  one  of  his  merry 

moods,  called  this  sweet  old  town  of  Carlisle.  Why  should  it  be  an 
impracticable  thing  ?  Is  not  traveling  good  for  Dr.  Olin  ?  Has  he 
not  done  up  all  the  traveling  there  is  in  that  eastern  region  between 
Passamaquoddy  and  Fort  Moultrie  ?  Would  not  a  new  route  be  a 
blessing  and  a  comfort  to  his  eyes,  if  not  to  his  bones  ?  (Part  of  our 
railway  is  a  little  rough  !)  And  have  we  not  a  comfortable  little 
house — not  grand  nor  gay,  but  one  of  those  humble  cubbies  that 
lightning  never  strikes,  and  the  fell  winds  pass  over,  in  pity  for  its 
feebleness  ?  Now,  *he  fairly  promised  me  once  to  come,  and  the 
promise  yet  remains  in  full  force  and  virtue.  Why,  I  ask  again, 
should  it  be  a  thing  impracticable  ?    Think  it  over,  please,  and  call 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


141 


to  your  aid  one  of  those  invisible  but  potent  spirits  that  carried  me 
off  bodily  to  your  pretty  city  the  other  night — and  then,  when  he 
gives  the  impulse,  don't  let  so  vulgar  a  thing  arrest  it  as,  to  my  sor- 
row and  poverty  I  confess  it,  keeps  me  from  going  next  week  to 
Middletown. 

I  have  done  two  wrong  things  in  this  letter ;  namely,  quote  Latin 
and  talk  of  money.  But  the  little  Latin  can't  do  much  harm,  as  it  is 
very  poverty-stricken,  and  is  going  direct  to  the  University  besides. 
And,  after  all,  I  have  not  talked  so  much  about  money  as  the  want 
of  it,  so  that  I  may  be  acquitted  of  that  indictment  too. 

How  often  I  wish  I  was  a  professor  at  Middletown  !  (Don't  tell 
any  of  the  Faculty,  lest  they  think  I  am  plotting  to  eject  them.)  Not 
that  I  think  yours  a  better  town,  or  a  better  college  than  our  own,  or 
rather,  putting  both  together,  not  that  I  think  Middletown  aiid  the 
University  better  than  Carlisle  and  Dickinson.  But  I  should  love 
exceedingly  to  spend  part  of  my  life  with  Dr.  Olin — and  I  suppose  he 
will  stay,  for  some  years  at  least,  in  Middletown.  Not,  too,  that  I 
don't  love  my  friends  here,  for  I  do  dearly,  (you  see  this  is  the  sober 
second  thought,)  but  I  should  like  to  go  there  for  all,  so  long  as 
your  husband  is  there.  I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  insinuate  that  your 
presence  would  be  the  attraction,  for  I  told  him  the  same  thing  four 
years  ago,  on  board  of  a  canal-boat  in  the  Lehigh  River,  under 
ground  some  fifty  feet  or  less,  and  yet  some  eight  hundred  or  a  thou- 
sand feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  I  don't  know  that  he  will  re- 
member what  I  said  ;  but  I  am  sure  he'll  remember  the  canal,  and 
the  strange  experiments  we  made  in  the  art  of  sinking,  going  down 
the  mountain  by  water.  It  was  a  strange,  wild  scene  ;  and  I  re- 
member trying  to  make  him  say  it  was  grand,  or  sublime,  or  rugged, 
or  any  thing  out  of  the  traveler's  vocabulary  of  adjectives  ;  but  he 
put  me  off  very  decidedly,  for  "he  had  seen  the  Drachenfels,"  or 
some  other  v^ery  stony  place — no,  it  was  a  great  rocky  region  some- 
where near  Pesth,  I  think,  on  the  Danube.  I  felt  inclined  to  brag 
of  the  superiority  of  Pennsylvania  ;  but  as  he  had  seen  both,  he  had 
a  decided  advantage  of  me,  and  was  cruel  enough  to  make  use  of  it. 
However,  if  I  live,  and  am  miserly  enough  to  avoid  all  expensive 


142 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


journeys  merely  to  see  my  friends,  I  shall  see  Pesth  and  that  black 
mountain  one  of  these  days  myself,  and  then  we  can  argue  the  point 
on  equal  terms. 

I  have  written  just  as  I  felt,  and  hope  my  letter  will  find  you  in  a 
happy  mood.  That  you  will  be  so  I  am  sure,  if  Dr.  O.  is  well ;  and 
so,  in  wishing  that,  I  have  wished  what  most  concerns  both  of  us. 
Tell  him  how  much  I  love  him  ;  and  believe  me  to  be  your  sincere 
and  obliged,  but  most  unworthy  friend. 


\ 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
1847. 

The  Cumberland  Valley  a  Highway  of  Migration— The  Nt^roes  of  Carlisle— The  Pur- 
siiit  by  .Messrs.  Kennady  and  IloUingsworth  of  Three  Slaves— Symptoms  of  Eiot  at  the  Office 
of  a  Jii'jtice  of  the  Peace— Collision  of  Negroes  with  the  Sheriff"  s  Oflicer — All  Parties  brought 
before  Judge  Hepburn  on  a  Writ  of  Jlatieas  C<>rpuis — The  Judge's  Decision — Attemj)! 
Made  in  the  Court-room  to  Eescue  the  Slaves — The  Blacks  Baffled  and  Overawed — The 
Attitude  of  Pennsylvania  in  Relation  to  Slavery — The  Prig<f  Case  before  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  United  States— The  Pennsylvania  Law  of  1&4T— Arrival  of  Professor  M'Cliutock  at  the 
Court-h  use — Co-operates  in  Procuring  a  Second  Writ  of  Jlabeaa  Corpm — Interposition 
in  Behalf  of  a  Negro— Attempt  to  Carry  the  Slaves  Away— Resistance  by  Negroes  of  the 
Town — A  Melee  in  which  Mr.  Kennady  is  Struck  Down— Great  E.xcitement  in  the  Country 
—Professor  M'Clintock  Charged  witii  Instigating  a  liiot  and  Arrested— Trial  of  Professor 
M'Clintock  and  Twenty-eiglit  Negroes — The  Testimony  for  the  Prosecution — Scenes  in  the 
Court— Def<!nse  and  Acquittal— Protest  of  the  Judge— Conviction  of  Thirteen  Negroes  and 
Sentence  of  Ten  to  the  Penitentiai-y — Their  Release  by  the  Suprenae  Court — Letters. 

/"WHOEVER  has  studied  the  topography  of  Pennsyl- 
^  '  vania  has  observed  the  numerous  ranges  of  hills 
which,  running  parallel  with  the  AUeghanies  from  north- 
east to  south-west,  form  the  outlying  walls  of  the  inner 
and  loftier  mountain  system.  Some  of  their  intervening 
valleys  are  so  narrow  that  even  in  the  longest  and  bright- 
est days  they  lie  much  of  the  time  in  deep  shadow  ;  oth- 
ers again  are  of  such  capacious  breadth  that  they  sustain 
an  ever-growing  population,  distributed  over  ample  farm- 
ing spaces,  or  concentrated  in  villages  and  towns.  Of 
these,  the  valley  known  as  the  Cumberland,  after  reaching 
the  southern  line  of  the  State,  sweeps  on  through  Western 
Maryland,  Central  Virginia,  and  East  Tennessee,  till  it  is 
lost  in  the  plains  of  the  far  South.    It  has  always  been  a 


144  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

highway  over  which  a  migratory  people  have  travelled. 
The  Scotch-Irish  and  Germans  who  settled  Central  Penn- 
sylvania had,  long  before  the  late  civil  war,  followed 
the  course  of  the  valley  into  Maryland  and  Virginia. 
Concurrently,  however,  with  this  flow  from  the  North, 
there  had  been  a  flow  upwards  from  the  South.  The 
comparatively  mild  form  of  slavery  which  prevailed  in  the 
border  Southern  States  offered  many  facilities  for  eman- 
cipation. Educated  under  the  teaching  of  Methodism, 
some  conscientious  masters  had  manumitted  their  bond- 
men ;  other  slaves  had  bought  their  freedom.  Once  free 
according  to  the  forms  of  law,  a  strong  impulse  led  not 
a  few  of  these  blacks  to  seek  a  fuller  enjoyment  of  their 
newly-acquired  rights  than  was  possible  in  their  old 
southern  homes.  Slaves  who  helped  themselves  to  their 
liberty  knew  perfectly  well  that  it  was  not  safe  to  linger 
near  the  border  line,  and  rested  not  till  they  had  found 
their  way  to  New  England  or  Canada, 

The  borough  of  Carlisle  had  received  its  full  share  of 
these  immigrants  from  the  neighboring  Southern  States. 
Taken  together,  they  were  a  quiet  and  orderly  element 
of  the  population.  Some  of  them  were  freeholders,  and 
had  comfortable  homes  of  their  own  ;  others,  if  less  thrifty, 
were  above  want.  A  number  of  the  men  were  employed 
in  the  service  of  the  college,  and  were  liked  as  civil  and 
obliging  persons.  The  blacks  of  Carlisle  were  neither 
beggars  nor  vagabonds.  Among  them  was  to  be  found 
the  inevitable  gray-haired  patriarch,  whose  age  was  any- 
where in  the  neighborhood  of  a  hundred  years  that  one 
might  choose  to  guess.    He  was  an  old  rapscallion,  who 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLLXTOCK.  145 

had  his  own  story  to  tell  of  the  way  he  had  bought  him- 
self out  of  slavery.  A  few  of  us  built  for  him  a  house  of 
about  twelve  by  fourteen  feet,  where  he  lived  in  the  per- 
fect enjoyment  of  his  independence,  and  carried  himself 
with  all  the  air  and  state  of  a  lord  of  the  manor. 

Early  in  June,  1847,  ^^""'^  slaveowners  from  ^Maryland, 
James  H.  Kennady  and  Howard  Hollingsworth,  came  to 
Carlisle  in  pursuit  of  three  runaway  servants.  One  of 
the  runaways  was  a  man  of  fifty  years,  and  known  as 
Lloyd  Brown  ;  another  was  a  girl  of  ten,  and  a  third  a 
woman  of  fifty,  called  Hester.  The  owners  were  from 
Hagerstown,  where  they  lived  in  good  repute  among 
their  neighbors.  They  had  an  unquestioning  conviction 
of  their  right  to  their  human  property,  and  expected 
with  entire  confidence  that  the  authorities  in  Pennsyl- 
vania would  make  their  title  good. 

A  colored  man  in  the  borough  claimed  the  woman, 
Hester,  as  his  wife  ;  and,  whether  from  this  cause  or  some 
other  not  known,  the  blacks  were  excited  to  the  point 
of  offering  a  determined  resistance  to  the  arrest  of  the 
fugitives.  Excited  they  had  every  reason  to  be  ;  but  a 
union  to  fight  the  battle  out  with  the  captors  was  for 
them  an  unheard-of  exhibition  of  courage.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  second  of  June  the  owners  appeared  with  the 
captured  fugitives  before  a  justice  of  the  peace,  made  the 
usual  claim,  with  proofs  that  were  considered  sufficient, 
and  received  a  certificate  delivering  the  negroes  into 
their  custody.  They  then  asked  for  a  commitment  to 
jail,  where  the  three  slaves  might  remain  in  the  keeping 

of  the  sheriff  until  it  was  convenient  to  remove  them  to 
10 


146  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

Maryland.  The  request,  though  wholly  illegal,  was 
granted,  and  the  officers  proceeded  to  make  the  removal. 
At  this  point  a  negro  named  Norman,  the  reputed  hus- 
band of  Hester,  seized  her  by  the  waist  and  tried  to 
carry  her  off.  The  deputy  sheriff,  a  strong,  muscular 
person,  struck  him  a  heavy  blow  which  knocked  him 
against  the  wall  of  a  house,  at  the  same  time  declaring 
that  another  attempt  at  a  rescue  would  be  met  with  a 
pistol  shot.  The  blacks  were  for  the  time  intimidated, 
and  the  fugitives  were  carried  off  to  the  jail,  which  stood, 
and  still  stands,  on  the  main  street  of  the  town.  The 
sheriff  and  his  prisoners  were  followed  by  an  agitated 
crowd,  largely  made  up  of  women,  many  of  them  armed 
with  sticks  and  such  missiles  as  they  could  hastily 
pick  up. 

Early  in  the  afternoon  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus  was  ob- 
tained by  Mr.  Adair,  one  of  the  lawyers  of  the  borough, 
bringing  all  parties  before  the  presiding  judge,  Hepburn, 
at  the  court-house.  By  this  time  the  symptoms  of  a  vio- 
lent outbreak  were  so  threatening,  that  a  posse  of  officers 
was  summoned  to  the  aid  of  the  sheriff  The  crowd  of 
blacks  hung. about  the  jail  till  its  doors  were  opened 
again,  and  then  they  followed  the  sheriff  and  the  slaves, 
but  by  no  means  in  silence,  to  the  court.  The  illegality 
of  the  imprisonment  was  decided  very  quickly,  and  the 
slaves  were  taken  out  of  the  hands  of  the  sheriff  and 
handed  over  to  the  keeping  of  their  owners.  Messrs. 
Kennady  and  Hollingsworth  had,  however,  been  arrested 
on  a  warrant  from  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  forcibly  en- 
tering the  house  in  which  the  slaves  were  found.  They 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  147 

had  gone  from  the  court-room  to  give  the  necessary  bail, 
and  had  requested  the  sheriff  and  his  deputy  to  take 
charge  of  the  fugitives  until  their  return.  The  willing 
officers  undertook  this  service,  illegal  as  it  was,  and  sta- 
tioned themselves  close  to  the  prisoners'  box.  The 
blacks  of  the  town,  who  by  this  time  were  maddened  to 
fury,  rushed  to  the  box,  lifted  the  woman,  Hester,  out  of 
it,  and  made  way  with  her  towards  the  door  ;  the  deputy, 
who  had  beaten  off  the  woman's  husband  earlier  in  the 
day,  drew  his  pistol  and  swore  he  would  shoot  any  one 
who  attempted  a  rescue.  The  doors  of  the  court-room 
were  hastily  closed,  and  escape  rendered  impossible. 
The  judge,  seeing  a  riot  imminent  before  his  eyes  as  he 
sat  on  the  bench,  ordered  the  room  to  be  cleared.  The 
crowd,  white  and  black,  were  forced  out,  and  the  captors 
and  their  prey  remained  within,  sheltered  by  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States,  as  it  then  was,  with  the  re- 
luctant assent  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  good  old  Commonwealth  was  most  reluctant  to 
stain  her  hands  by  giving  aid  to  such  work.  By  the 
act  of  March  i,  1780,  passed  nine  years  before  the 
adoption  of  the  National  Constitution,  slavery  was  abol- 
ished in  all  her  borders.  All  persons  thereafter  born  in 
the  State  were  to  be  free.  Her  love  of  liberty  had  been 
expressed  m  the  act  of  1788,  which  declared  that  every 
slave  brought  within  her  domain  "  by  persons  inhabiting 
or  residing  therein,  or  intending  to  inhabit  or  reside 
therein,"  should  be  immediately  deemed  and  taken  to  be 
free  to  all  intents  and  purposes.  By  the  same  act  the 
separation  of  husband  and  wife  beyond  a  distance  of  ten 


148  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

miles  was  forbidden.  Her  law  of  1826,  framed  for  the 
twofold  purpose  of  preventing  kidnapping  and  carrying 
out  the  obligation  to  return  fugitives  from  labor  imposed 
by  the  Federal  Constitution,  had  been  declared  to  be  null 
and  void  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 
Edward  Prigg  had  been  indicted  under  this  law  in  the 
Court  of  the  County  of  York — which  adjoins  Cumberland 
— for  illegally  carrying  off  a  slave  woman  to  Maryland, 
and  had  been  convicted.  By  consent  of  the  two  States 
the  case  had  been  appealed  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  States,  in  order  to  determine  where  the  power  of 
legislation  in  regard  to  fugitive  slaves  resided.  Justice 
Story  read  the  opinion  of  the  Court,  which  was  summed 
up  in  this  sentence  :  We  hold  the  power  of  legislation 
on  this  subject  to  be  exclusive  in  Congress."  Chief-Jus- 
tice Taney  read  an  opinion,  which  was  still  more  em- 
phatic: Every  State  law,"  it  said,  which  requires  the 
master  against  his  consent  to  go  before  any  State  tribu- 
nal or  officer  before  he  can  take  possession  of  his  prop- 
erty, or  which  authorizes  a  State  officer  to  interfere  with 
him,  is  unconstitutional  and  void.  But,  as  I  understand 
the  opinion  of  the  Court,  it  goes  further,  and  decides 
that  all  laws  upon  the  subject  passed  by  a  State,  since 
the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
are  null  and  void,  even  although  they  were  intended  in 
good  faith  to  protect  the  owner  in  the  exercise  of  his 
rights  of  property,  and  do  not  conflict  in  any  degree 
with  the  act  of  Congress." 

This  decision  was  a  heavy  blow  to  Pennsylvania, 
which  had  always  been  distinguished  for  a  scrupulous 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  149 

observance  of  inter-State  obligations,  and  as  much  for 
tenderness  towards  all  who  sought  the  privilege  of  an  asy- 
lum upon  her  soil.  It  left  her  a  helpless  looker-on  while 
the  slave-hunter  tracked  and  pursued  his  prey.  Time  was 
chosen  for  a  deliberate  answer,  and  in  the  winter  of  1847 
the  answer  was  given.  Taking  the  Supreme  Court  at  its 
w^ord,  and  following  the  principle  laid  down  in  the  Prigg 
case  to  its  logical  conclusion,  the  State,  through  its  legis- 
lature, enacted  a  law  forbidding  its  judicial  and  executive 
officers  to  bear  any  part  whatever  in  the  recapture  of  fu- 
gitive slaves.  By  this  act  every  judge,  alderman,  or  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  the  Commonwealth  was  forbidden, 
under  penalty  of  a  heavy  fine,  to  take  cognizance  of 
the  case  of  any  fugitives  from  labor,  from  any  of  the 
United  States  or  Territories,  arising  under  the  law  of 
Congress  of  1793,  or  to  grant  any  certificate  or  warrant 
of  removal  of  any  such  fugitive.  Any  person  claiming  a 
negro  as  a  fugitive  from  labor  who  should,  under  any  pre- 
tence or  authority,  seize,  or  attempt  to  seize,  and  carry 
away  in  a  violent  and  tumultuous  manner  such  negro  or 
mulatto,  was  held  to  be  guilty  of  misdemeanor  and  liable 
to  a  heavy  fine.  It  was  declared  also  to  be  unlawful  to 
use  any  jail  or  prison  of  the  Commonwealth  for  the  deten- 
tion of  any  person  claimed  as  a  fugitive  from  labor.  This 
law  was  passed,  as  we  have  stated,  early  in  1847,  ^'"'d  was 
approved  by  that  most  democratic  of  governors,  Francis 
R.  Shunk.  It  meant  to  say  plainly,  If  the  jurisdiction 
over  the  recovery  of  fugitive  slaves  is  exclusively  in  the 
United  States,  then  the  government  of  the  United  States 
must  provide  the  means  for  such  recovery.    The  Com- 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


monwealth  of  Pennsylvania  washes  her  hands  of  all  this 
business.  She  submits  to  the  humiliation  of  having  her 
soil  made  a  slave  captor's  hunting  ground,  but  warns 
the  hunters  of  what  they  may  expect."  It  was  grandly 
spoken,  and  to  no  citizen  did  the  passage  of  the  law  of 
1847  g^^^  ^  more  heartfelt  satisfaction  than  to  Professor 
M'Clintock. 

Of  the  earlier  proceedings  in  the  case  of  the  fugitives 
whom  we  left  shut  up  in  the  court-room.  Professor 
M'Clintock  knew  nothing.  It  was  his  habit,  towards  five 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  to  go  to  the  post-office,  then  on 
the  same  street  with  the  court-house,  but  not  quite  op- 
posite, for  his  letters.  Calling  as  usual  this  afternoon,  he 
was  informed  by  the  postmaster  of  the  progress  of  the 
investigation,  and  went  over  to  see  and  hear  for  himself. 
He  arrived  at  the  moment  the  judge  had  pronounced 
that  the  slaves  were  improperly  in  the  hands  of  the  sheriff. 
As  he  entered  the  room  he  met  an  Episcopal  minister, 
who  expressed  a  doubt  of  the  testimony  which  had  been 
offered  to  prove  that  the  woman  and  the  child  were 
slaves.  He  had  a  rude  greeting  from  some  of  the  ex- 
cited w^hites  who  made  up  a  large  part  of  the  crowd  in 
the  court.  "  There,"  shouted  some  one,  goes  a  d — d 
abolitionist."  Look  at  M'Clintock,"  shouted  another 
voice,  ''the  d — d  abolitionist."  Taking  his  seat  inside 
the  bar  with  the  counsel  for  the  negroes,  he  asked  them 
if  they  had  seen  the  new  law  of  1847  5  they  had  not  even 
heard  of  it.  It  was  then  mentioned  by  counsel  to  the 
judge,  but  the  judge  was  not  advised  of  its  existence.  As 
far  as  could  be  ascertained  a  certified  copy  was  not  to  be 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


found  ill  the  borough,  and  the  only  newspaper  copy  was 
in  the  possession  of  Professor  M'Clintock  himself.  The 
capitol  of  the  State  in  which  the  law  was  enacted  was 
within  twenty  miles  of  Carlisle. 

Passing  on  to  the  door  of  the  court-room,  in  obedience 
to  the  judge's  order  to  clear  it,  Professor  M'Clintock  saw 
a  white  man  raise  a  stick  threateningly  over  the  head  of 
a  negro,  saying  at  the  same  moment,  You  ought  to  have 
your  skull  broke."  The  negro  protested  that  he  had 
done  nothing.  Then,"  said  the  professor,  "  if  any  one 
strikes  you  apply  to  me,  and  I  will  see  that  justice  is 
done  to  you."  Filled  with  the  idea  that  all  the  proceed- 
ings were  illegal,  he  discussed  with  two  of  the  lawyers  of 
the  borough  the  bearings  of  the  new  law  upon  the  case  as 
they  went  together  down  stairs.  It  was  determined  by 
Mr.  Adair,  the  counsel  for  the  negroes,  to  get  out  a  second 
writ  of  habeas  corpus,  and  to  try  before  the  judge  the 
question  of  the  ownership  of  the  woman  and  the  girl. 
While  the  papers  w^ere  preparing,  Professor  M'Clintock 
hastened  to  the  college  for  his  copy  of  the  Act  of  1847. 
He  returned  as  quickly  as  possible  and  rejoined  Mr. 
Adair,  who  by  this  time  had  his  petition  ready.  As  they 
came  from  the  rear  of  the  court-house,  and  stood  a  m.o- 
ment  upon  the  front  steps,  the  slave  owners,  with  their 
slaves,  came  down  the  stairs  from  the  room  above.  A 
carriage  had  been  driven  up  to  the  edge  of  the  sidewalk 
for  the  reception  of  the  whole  party.  Mr.  Kennady  fol- 
lowed close  after  his  servants,  and  with  a  billet  of  wood 
beat  off  the  negroes,  who,  in  a  high  state  of  excitement, 
crowded  in  upon  him.    The  man  Lloyd  Brown  was 


152  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

forced  into  the  carriage,  when  a  desperate  rush  was  made 
for  the  woman  and  the  girl.  Norman  seized  his  wife, 
Hester,  and  bore  her  off ;  some  one  else,  not  known, 
clutched  the  child.  The  crowd  dashed  across  the  street, 
and  down  an  alley-way  adjacent  to  the  market-house, 
with  Mr.  Kennady  in  full  pursuit.  He  was  well  able 
to  pursue,  for  he  was  six  feet  in  height,  stoutly  built, 
and  in  the  prime  of  life.  A  storm  of  missiles  followed 
the  negroes  as  they  fled,  and  fell  upon  both  pursuers  and 
pursued.  Just  as  Mr.  Kennady  had  crossed  the  street, 
in  his  tussle  with  the  rescuers,  he  was  tripped  by  some 
boards  lying  upon  the  sidewalk  and  fell  heavily.  Before 
he  could  rise  he  was  struck  repeatedly  by  the  negroes  as 
they  rushed  past  him  in  their  flight,  severely  hurt,  and 
rendered  helpless. 

It  was  all  done,  as  one  might  say,  in  the  twinkling  of 
an  eye.  The  amazed  lawyers  stood  upon  the  court- 
house steps,  Professor  M'CIintock  among  them,  but  with- 
out the  slightest  power  to  check  or  prevent  the  out- 
break. A  doctor  who  was  opportunely  near  came  to 
Mr.  Kennady's  assistance,  and  procured  a  settee,  on 
which  the  wounded  man  was  carried  to  his  hotel.  His 
left  arm,  right  hip,  and  abdomen  were  badly  bruised, 
one  knee-cap  was  torn  from  its  integuments,  and  blood 
was  flowing  freely  from  a  wound  on  the  back  of  the 
head.  The  physician,  who  had  reached  the  ground  in 
time  to  see  a  part  of  the  disturbance,  testified  that  he 
saw  Mr.  Kennady  "  endeavoring  to  hold  on  to  his  slaves 
with  one  hand,  while  he  was  beating  off  the  negroes  with 
the  other,  and  at  the  same  time  receiving  blows  from 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  1 53 

Sticks  and  stones."  He  had  underrated  the  determina- 
tion of  the  negroes  to  resist  him,  and  had  paid  for  his 
mistake  a  fearful  penalty. 

As  the  news  of  the  rescue,  and  the  hurt  done  to  the 
slaveowner,  spread  through  the  borough,  the  popula- 
tion— especially  its  less  intelligent  portion — was  ablaze 
with  excitement.  It  was  M'Clintock,  was  the  outcry, 
who  had  instigated  and  led  the  riot  ;  it  was  M'Clintock 
who  had  cheered  the  negroes  on  to  the  commission  of 
violence,  assuring  them  that  he  would  take  the  risk  of 
all  consequences.  He  had  expressed,  as  every  man  of 
right  feeling  would,  sincere  sorrow  for  the  harm  done  to 
the  slaveowner  :  but  no  account  was  made  of  that ;  he 
was  "  a  d — d  abolitionist,"  and  the  unreasoning  anger 
of  the  moment  fell  heavily  upon  him.  He  was  imme- 
diately arrested,  as  also  were  the  negroes,  as  far  as  they 
could  be  identified.  No  distinction  was  made  between 
the  Christian  scholar  and  the  poor  creatures  in  whose  be- 
half he  had  vainly  interfered  ;  the  popular  feeling  linked 
him  and  them  together  as  alike  guilty  of  a  breach  of  the 
peace.  It  was  rumored  that  he  was  to  be  arrested  at  an 
hour  of  the  night  too  late  to  admit  of  his  procuring  bail, 
but  he  was  fortunately  spared  that  indignity. 

When  the  news  spread  through  the  country  the  ex- 
citement became  more  intense.  As  usual,  the  distorted 
story  was  the  first  to  reach  the  press,  and  elicited  the 
severest  comments.  The  "  New  York  Herald"  was  furi- 
ous against  Professor  M'Clintock.  The  Philadelphia 
"  Ledger  "  quickly  corrected  its  error,  while  the  "  Bulle- 
tin "  and  the     Spirit  of  the  Times"  steadily  held  the 


154  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

attention  of  the  community  to  the  real  facts  of  the  case. 
A  meeting  of  the  southern  students  of  the  college,  who 
numbered  nearly  one  hundred,  was  called,  in  which  res- 
olutions of  confidence  in  their  professor  were  adopted, 
and  embodied  in  a  card  to  the  public.  The  excitement 
was  rapidly  subsiding  when  the  death  of  Mr.  Kennady 
cast  a  deep  shadow  upon  the  events  of  the  second  of 
June.  For  three  weeks  he  had  progressed  rapidly  to- 
ward recovery,  was  in  good  spirits,  and  looked  forward 
to  a  speedy  release  from  his  confinement,  when  suddenly, 
and  without  warning,  he  passed  away.  Nothing  ap- 
peared to  connect  his  death  directly  with  the  contusions 
received  during  the  struggle  with  the  negroes,  but  the 
fact  of  his  decease  gave  to  the  riot  a  gravity  which  oth- 
erwise it  could  not  have  assumed. 

The  friends  of  Professor  M'Clintock  did  not  desert 
him  in  this  important  crisis  of  his  life.  They  gathered 
about  him  and  gave  him  assurance  of  their  support. 
Joshua  M.  Giddings  sent  him  words  of  good  cheer. 
Thaddeus  Stevens  was  ready,  even  solicitous,  to  take 
part  in  his  defence.  For  years  a  leading  member  of 
the  bar  in  Adams  County,  which  directly  adjoins  Mary- 
land, Mr.  Stevens  was  known  throughout  the  State  as 
an  aggressive  abolitionist ;  his  courage  and  force  of 
character  compelled  men  to  respect  him,  no  matter  what 
they  might  think  of  his  opinions.  On  the  3d  of  June 
Professor  M'Clintock  wrote  an  account  of  his  part  in  the 
events  of  the  day  preceding  to  his  brother-in-law,  Mr. 
E.  B.  Wakeman,  and  on  the  loth  a  still  fuller  statement. 
The  two  letters  disclose  the  composure  with  which  he 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


contemplated  the  contingencies  before  him,  and  as  well 
the  anxiety  which  underlay  it  all  the  time: — 

Carlisle,  June  3,  1S47. 

Dear  Edgar  :  We  had  quite  a  case  here  yesterday.  A  gentleman 
called  me  into  the  court-house  as  I  was  passing,  about  five  P.M.,  to  see 
a  habeas  corpus  tried  for  those  fugitives  who  had  been  arrested  and 
committed  to  jail.  The  judge  pronounced  them  illegally  in  custody,  and 
discharged  them  from  the  sheriff's  hands  ;  but  they  were  still  kept  in 
the  court-house.  After  awhile  they  were  taken  out  to  be  put  into  a 
carriage  that  was  drawn  up  in  front  of  the  court-house,  and  a  rush 
was  made,  two  slave  women  carried  off,  the  other,  a  man,  retained. 
In  the  riot  the  owner  was  severely  wounded,  and  a  boy  in  the  crowd 
mortally.  With  all  this  I  had  nothing  to  do.  But  in  the  court-room, 
before  the  parties  came  out,  I  told  the  judge  of  the  law  of  last  session 
on  the  reclamation  of  fugitives,  which  made  all  the  proceedings  ille- 
gal from  the  beginning.  A  negro  of  the  town  was  threatened  with 
having  his  skull  broke.  He  said  he  had  done  nothing,  and  I  told 
him  if  that  was  so  I  would  see  justice  done  him.  And  after  all  was 
over  an  old  negro  woman  called  to  me  to  save  her  from  jail,  as  she 
had  done  nothing  but  try  to  keep  her  old  man  from  getting  into  the 
riot.  I  told  the  officer  that  if  he  carried  her  off  illegally  I  should 
see  her  righted  ;  and  he  let  her  go. 

All  that  I  did  was  to  try  to  do  my  duty  to  the  laws  of  the  land. 
But  the  slavecatchers  have  spread  abroad  the  report  that  I  incited 
the  riot,  and  have  sworn  to  it,  and  I  am  under  bail  to  appear  at  Au- 
gust court.    They  will  find  that  the  saddle  is  on  the  wrong  horse. 

I  believe  you  now  understand  the  whole  case,  and  perhaps  you  will 
think  I  have  done  no  wrong.  I  am  glad  that  my  noble  wife  has 
spunk  enough  neither  to  be  afraid  of  mobs  nor  ashamed  of  her 
husband. 

Mr.  E.  B.  Wakeman. 

Cablisle,  Jane  10,  184T. 
Your  letter  and  David's  were  duly  received.    I  answer  you  both 
in  one,  as  my  hands  are  pretty  full  of  business.    For  all  your  ex- 


156 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


pressions  of  sympathy  and  kindness  I  heartily  thank  you  ;  in  a  time  of 
trial  all  such  words  are  worth  their  weight  in  gold.  And  I  know,  too, 
that  the  deeds  will  not  be  wanting  to  back  the  words,  if  there  is  any 
need  of  them.  You  are  perfectly  right  in  supposing  that  I  have 
done  nothing  illegal  or  wrong.  If  to  sympathize  with  the  oppressed 
be  a  sin,  I  plead  guilty  ;  if  to  aid  them,  without  violating  the  law,  be  a 
sin,  then  I  am  a  transgressor ;  but  not  otherwise.  I  do  not  know 
that  I  can  add  any  thing  to  my  own  statement  of  facts  made  in  the 
last  letter.  But  the  charges,  the  rumors,  and,  I  am  told,  the  affi- 
davits, go  far  beyond  that.  Luckily,  so  far  as  I  can  learn,  there  is  no 
man  of  the  slightest  character  who  can  or  will  venture  to  swear 
against  me  ;  while  there  are  scores  who  will  testify  on  my  side,  that 
I  did  nothing  tending  to  incite  to  riot.  The  papers  here  are  so  mis- 
erably cowardly  and  sycophantic  that  they  have  not  even  given  any 
statement  of  the  palpable  infractions  of  the  law  of  Pennsylvania  that 
were  perpetrated  on  the  occasion.  They  have  all  abstained,  however, 
from  connecting  my  name  with  the  accounts  of  the  riot.  The  court 
does  not  sit  until  August  25,  at  which  time  I  shall  have  to  be  here. 
A  most  violent  article  has  appeared  in  the  "  Hagerstown  Torch- 
light," full  of  abominable  lies,  with  my  name  and  supposed  deeds 
filling  two  columns. 

The  southern  students  of  the  college  have  signed  a  document  stat- 
ing that  they  are  satisfied,  after  the  fullest  examination,  of  the  falsity 
of  the  charges  brought  against  me,  and  declaring  that  my  separation 
from  the  college  would  be  an  irreparable  loss  both  to  themselves  and 
the  institution.  On  that  point,  however,  my  mind  is  made  up  ;  just 
as  soon  as  things  are  cleared  up  a  little  I  shall  cut  loose  from  this 
concern  ;  not  that  they  have  not  treated  me  well,  but  that  I  cannot 
bear  its  multiform  restraints.  Dr.  Emor^'  has  behaved  nobly  through 
all  this  business  ;  neither  of  you  could  have  done  more  or  better.  I 
only  fear  that  his  health  may  be  affected  by  the  pain  and  anxiety  it 
has  caused  him. 

That  good  will  come  out  of  it  in  the  end  I  am  sure.  As  for  the  per- 
sonal ill  repute  that  will  be  brought  upon  myself,  it  cannot  last  long, 
and  will  probably  do  me  good  in  the  issue.    I  have  had  my  mind  in 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


peace  and  comfort  through  the  whole  affair,  and  do  not  wonder  at 
the  tranquillity  of  other  men  in  worse  contingencies.  I  suppose  the 
nerves  string  up  of  their  own  accord  in  such  emergencies. 

They  talk  of  bringing  civil  suits  against  me  in  the  Circuit  Court  of 
the  United  States  for  the  value  of  the  slaves,  and  the  personal  injury 
sustained  by  the  claimant ;  if  they  do  it  will  be  rich  and  useful. 
Philadelphia  will  be  worth  a  visit  then.  It  is  now  late  and  I  am  tired, 
so  good-bye. 

Mr.  E.  B.  Wakeman. 

The  entry  in  his  diary  on  the  evening  of  June  2, 
written  while  his  mind  was  all  aglow,  makes  some  rep- 
etition of  the  story,  but  is  of  too  much  interest  to  be 
omitted  :— 

June  2,  1847.  This  day  at  five  P.M.,  as  I  was  passing  the  court- 
house, Mr.  Sanderson  (postmaster)  called  me  and  asked  if  I  wasn't 
going  into  the  court-house.  "Why?"  "There  is  a  case  of  fugi- 
tive slaves,"  etc.  I  went  in.  Mr.  Thorne  told  me  at  the  door  that 
there  was  doubt  about  the  woman  and  child  being  slaves,  but  not 
about  the  man,  (there  were  three  in  all.)  The  case  was  over  in  about 
five  minutes  after  I  entered.  The  judge  decided  on  the  habeas  corpus 
that  the  sheriff  had  no  right  to  imprison  the  blacks,  and  dismissed 
them  from  his  custody,  saying  at  the  same  time  that  the  masters  had 
certificates  from  the  justice  of  the  peace  on  which  they  could  remove 
them.  This  I  knew  to  be  contrary  to  the  late  law  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  I  went  up  to  Judge  Hepburn  (after  the  court  had  adjourned)  and 
asked  him  about  it.  Found  that  neither  he  nor  the  lawyers  knew 
any  thing  about  the  law.  There  was  no  proof  that  the  woman  and 
child  were  slaves ;  the  man  admitted  it.  Adair  told  me  he  would 
get  out  another  writ  to  try  the  question  of  property,  which  had  not 
been  gone  into.  At  his  request  I  went  home  and  got  the  law.  After 
my  return  I  stood  on  the  porch  talking  with  several  young  lawyers, 
who  exhibited  the  most  miserable  ignorance  of  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States.    During  the  conversation  the  slaves  were  brought 


IS8 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


out,  and  before  the  writ  of  habeas  co7'pns  had  been  returned  by  the 
judge.  The  free  blacks,  seeing  their  fellows  about  lo  be  carried  away 
into  interminable  bondage,  made  a  rush  and  carried  off  the  woman 
and  child.  In  the  7nelee  one  of  the  slaveowners,  named  Kennady, 
was  badly  hurt. 

As  I  was  coming  home  the  last  time  I  heard,  near  the  court- 
house corner,  several  persons  saying,  "  Let  her  go,  she  has  done 
nothing,"  and  turning  I  found  a  man  hauling  off  an  aged  colored 
woman.  She  said  she  had  only  tried  to  get  "  her  old  man  out,"  and 
I  told  the  officer  that  if  "  she  had  done  nothing,  and  he  arrested  her 
illegally,  I  would  see  justice  done  her,"    I  then  came  home. 

After  tea  I  heard  that  I  was  charged  with  inciting  the  riot,  and 
that  a  writ  was  out  against  me.  All  sorts  of  stories  were  told,  and 
many  of  the  students  were  very  much  excited.  They  held  a 
meeting  on  the  chapel  steps  at  seven  P.M.  Emor\-  went  there  and 
said  a  few  words ;  when  I  heard  of  it  I  went  out,  and  gave  them 
the  true  account  ;  told  them  to  go  down  and  ask  any  decent  person 
they  chose  and  they  would  find  it  confirmed.  They  behaved  very 
well.  It  was  stated  in  the  evening  that  our  house  would  be  mobbed. 
The  town  was  in  great  excitement,  and  it  was  thought  best  for  my 
family  to  sleep  at  Dr,  Emor)-'s. 

The  truth  of  the  case  was,  that  my  human  and  Christian  sympa- 
thies were  openly  exhibited  on  the  side  of  the  poor  blacks,  and  this 
gave  mortal  offence  to  the  slaveholders  and  their  confreres  in  the 
town. 

Thiers.,  June  3.  At  eight  this  morning  I  went  down  to  Esquire 
Holsapple's  and  gave  Emory  as  bail  for  my  appearance  at  court  on 
August  25.    The  students  are  all  right. 

By  the  time  the  day  of  the  trial  arrived  (August  25th) 
the  case  had  expanded  beyond  its  personal  relations, 
and  had  become  a  cause,"  on  the  opposite  sides  of 
which  eager  contestants  were  enlisted.  No  moneys  it 
was  said,  would  be  spared  to  insure  the  conviction  of 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  1 59 

the  professor.  There  was  a  full  array  of  counsel.  The 
prosecuting  attorney,  J.  Ellis  Bonham,  was  assisted  by 
three  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  the  county.  For  Pro- 
fessor M'Clintock  his  friend,  Wm.  M.  Biddle,  appeared, 
and  also  Mr.  Adair,  who  had  been  so  active  in  procuring 
the  habeas  corpus^  Mr.  Graham,  and  Wm.  M.  Meredith,  one 
of  the  famous  leaders  of  the  Philadelphia  bar.  The  de- 
fendants, twenty-nine  men  and  women,  were  all  indicted 
in  one  batch  together,  the  gentleman  and  scholar  lead- 
ing the  list.  A  separate  trial  was  asked  for  him,  but 
was  refused.  It  Avas  well.  He  had  taken  his  place  by 
the  side  of  God's  poor,  to  give  them  the  benefit  of  his 
larger  intelligence  and  to  shield  them  from  wrong ;  it 
was  not  unbecoming  for  him  to  share  their  lot.  There 
could  be  no  better  position  for  a  follower  of  Christ  and  a 
minister  of  his  truth. 

An  excellent  jury  was  impanneled.  Among  them 
was  a  stanch  Calvinist,  one  of  that  rugged  race  who  had 
originally  settled  the  Cumberland  Valley,  and  who  were 
as  immovable  as  their  own  Blue  Mountains  in  the  main- 
tenance of  their  convictions  of  right.  Mr.  Bonham,  the 
prosecuting  attorney,  was  a  gentleman  of  refined  feel- 
ing as  well  as  an  able  lawyer.  He  wove  together  from 
the  testimony  which  he  expected  to  produce  a  combina- 
tion of  charges  against  the  subject  of  our  memoir,  which, 
if  the  Commonwealth's  witnesses  had  only  been  trust- 
worthy, would  have  overwhelmed  any  man  that  ever 
lived.  In  the  mad  excitement  of  the  hour  witnesses 
imagined  that  they  had  heard  him  use  vulgarisms  of 
language  with  which  he  was  incapable  of  soiling  his 


i6o 


LIFE  AXD  LETTERS  OF 


tongue.  One  was  ready  to  swear,  and  did  swear,  that 
he  had  cried  out  to  the  blacks,  ''You  ones,  go  ahead; 
I'll  see  you  through."  Another,  that,  standing  on  the 
court-house  steps,  he  had  shouted,  "  Now,  boys,  is  your 
time;  go  ahead  ;  I'll  see  you  through,  or  be  responsible 
for  damages."  Another,  that  in  the  court-room,  when 
the  rescue  was  attempted  from  the  prisoners'  box,  he 
had  called  out,  Go  ahead,  boys,  and  stand  your 
ground."  These,  and  others  who  testified  for  the  State, 
had  transformed  the  scholar,  who  for  gentleness  was 
known  of  all  men,  into  a  vulgar  rough,  busying  himself 
in  rushing  from  group  to  group,  and  rallying  them  in 
uncouth  terms  to  their  bloody  work.  The  intrinsic  im- 
probability of  these  stories  should  have  been  their  refu- 
tation, but  the  atmosphere  of  passion  in  which  so  many 
of  the  parties  to  the  prosecution  were  involved  distorted 
their  vision,  and  rendered  them  incapable  of  seeing  or 
describing  with  correctness. 

Leaving  for  a  time  the  immediate  facts  of  the  case,  the 
prosecution  took  a  wider  range,  and  demanded  a  convic- 
tion as  a  means  of  appeasing  the  South  and  making  slave 
property  secure.  ''Your  verdict,"  said  the  State's  coun- 
sel to  the  jury,  "  either  one  way  or  the  other,  so  far  as 
these  defendants  are  concerned,  is  but  a  drop  in  the 
bucket,  compared  with  the  other  momentous  issues  which 
hang  upon  the  result.  The  rescue  of  these  slaves  has 
had  a  most  pernicious  tendency  in  the  South,  and  ren- 
dered the  property  of  every  slaveholder  insecure.  The 
slaves  now  think  that  they  can  get  protection  and  aid 
from  the  whites,  and  their  conduct  has  become  marked  by 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  l6l 

insubordination  and  violence.  .  .  .  Whether  these  defend- 
ants committed  this  outrage,  or  whether  they  did  not,  is 
a  matter  of  trivial  importance  to  your  southern  brethren, 
compared  with  the  consequences  which  may  flow  from 
your  verdict  to  the  social  and  political  organization  of 
whole  communities.  If  you  decide  that  these  outrages 
can  be  committed  with  impunity,  the  foundations  of  the 
Government  will  be  broken,  this  union  of  States  will  be 
rent  in  twain,  the  fagot  will  be  the  arbiter  of  right  and 
wrong,  and  the  glare  of  a  civil  and,  perhaps,  of  a  servile  war 
will  light  up  the  land.  Your  southern  brethren  look  to 
you,  gentlemen  of  the  jury,  for  protection,  and  that  by 
your  verdict  you  will  stay  the  lawlessness  which  threat- 
ens to  overwhelm  them."  A  most  pathetic  picture  of  the 
wailing  of  the  widow  over  the  dead  body  of  her  husband 
closed  the  able  presentation  of  the  Commonwealth's  case. 

The  appeal  to  render  such  a  verdict  as  would  soothe 
the  exasperated  sensibilities  of  the  people  of  the  South 
was  preposterous,  but  it  illustrates  the  temper  of  the 
times.  When  the  witnesses  for  the  prosecution  were 
brought  on,  it  was  found  that  they  had  seen  and  heard 
entirely  too  much.  One  who  was  certain  that,  at  the 
moment  of  the  outbreak,  -the  professor  was  in  the  act  of 
talking  to  three  negroes,  was  confuted  by  proof  that  the 
three  were  white  men,  two  of  them  respectable  lawyers 
of  Carlisle,  The  man  who  had  heard  him  say,  "  You 
ones,  go  ahead,  I'll  see  you  through,"  stuck  to  his  story 
under  cross-examination.  He  was  certain  of  it.  An- 
other witness  swore  that  the  professor's  face  was,  during 

the  riot, swollen  to  an  unnatural  size."    By  what  pro- 
11 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


cess  of  nature  the  swelling  was  produced  the  witness  did 
not  explain,  but  evidently  considered  it  an  effect  of  great 
excitement.  On  the  other  hand,  Mr.  Adair,  the  lawyer 
who  had  humanely  interested  himself  in  procuring  the 
habeas  corpus,  accounted  for  Professor  M'Clintock  during 
all  the  time  from  his  first  appearance  in  the  proceedings, 
with  the  exception  of  four  or  five  minutes.  They  were 
both,  he  said,  working  together  to  procure  relief  for  the 
slaves  according  to  the  forms  of  law.  A  Presbyterian  miin- 
ister  testified  that  he  and  the  professor  had  walked  down 
stairs  from  the  court-room  to  the  front  door  arm  in  arm, 
and  that  the  latter  was  calm  and  perfectly  master  of  him- 
self. Another  witness  had  heard  him  say  to  an  excited 
negro,  "There  must  be  no  fighting;  you  must  not  strike 
any  body,  but  if  any  one  strikes  you,  come  to  me  and  I'll 
protect  you."  And  these  words  were  the  key  to  all  his 
conduct  on  that  memorable  afternoon.  He  would,  as  a 
good  citizen,  obey  the  law,  but  would,  at  the  same  time, 
do  all  that  was  in  his  power  to  defend  the  weak.  Finally, 
the  most  cruel  charge  of  all,  that  he  had  expressed  pleas- 
ure when  told  that  Mr.  Kennady  was  hurt,  was  disposed 
of,  the  witness  to  that  point  failing  to  stand  by  his  as- 
sertion ;  and  another,  a  most  respectable  business  man, 
testifying  that  Professor  M'Clintock  had  expressed  pro- 
found regret  when  informed  of  the  catastrophe  with 
which  the  riot  had  closed.  There  remained  the  im- 
pregnable fact  that  the  blacks  had  shown  a  disposition 
to  unite  for  a  rescue  all  through  the  day,  and  that  they 
were  in  no  need  of  instigation  from  Professor  M'Clin- 
tock or  any  one  else. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  163 

The  court-room  presented  during  the  trial  a  spectacle 
such  as  has  rarely  been  seen  in  Cumberland  County. 
The  case,  from  its  nature,  touched  the  extreme  points  of 
society,  and  the  extremes  were  represented  in  the  crowd 
that  filled  seats  and  aisles,  and  watched,  with  breathless 
interest,  the  fluctuations  of  the  legal  conflict.  The  pas- 
sions certain  to  be  awakened  by  an  outbreak  of  the  end- 
less slavery  controversy  were  there  concentrated,  and  were 
exerting  their  utmost  force.  No  prisoners'  box  could 
hold  the  many  defendants ;  they  were  massed  on  one 
side  of  the  room,  under  guard  of  officers  of  the  court. 
They  were  a  motley  group  of  black,  brown,  and  yellow, 
and  as  they  gazed  on  the  proceedings  in  which  they  were 
interested  parties,  with  the  helpless  air  so  peculiar  to 
their  race,  they  excited  in  the  spectator  a  deep  feeling 
of  pity.  They  had  not,  however,  been  left  to  take  care 
of  themselves ;  competent  counsel  appeared  in  their  be- 
half. Their  codefendant,  who  had  tried  ineffectually  on 
the  second  of  June  to  aid  them,  sat  beside  his  lawyers, 
and  took  an  active  and  intelligent  interest  in  the  conduct 
of  the  case.  Personal  friends  were  there  to  give  him 
the  support  of  their  presence.  The  venerable  Alfred 
Griffith,  whose  homely  face,  halting  gait,  deafness,  and 
sterling  sense  withal,  would  have  made  him  a  much-no- 
ticed man  in  any  gathering,  sat  close  to  the  witness  stand, 
and  with  strained  attention  drank  in  every  word  of  the 
testimony  and  pleadings.  He  had  come  to  hear  and 
judge  for  himself,  and,  when  the  trial  was  over,  published 
a  well-reasoned  vindication  of  his  old  friend.  Professor 
M'Clintock.    More  than  all,  there  rested  upon  the  par- 


164 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


ties  to  the  case  an  indefinable  sense  of  its  meaning 
which  could  not  be  expressed  in  words,  an  apprehension 
that  it  pointed  to  woes  to  come,  a  dread  that  this  col- 
lision of  two  systems  of  life  and  civilization  at  a  single 
point  was  but  a  foretokening  of  what  might  be,  should 
the  collision  occur  at  ten  thousand  points,  and  involve 
all  the  communities  living  on  either  side  of  the  slave 
line.  Here  were  consequences  sad  enough  attending  the 
effort  to  secure  right  and  justice  for  three  slaves ;  what 
would  they  be  when  it  was  attempted  to  secure  right  and 
justice  for  three  millions? 

Small  attention,  as  may  well  be  supposed,  was  paid  by 
the  prosecutors  to  the  negroes.  Their  theory  of  the  events 
bound  them  to  employ  their  utmost  resources  to  procure 
the  conviction  of  Professor  M'Clintock,  and  they  spared 
no  effort  to  that  end.  The  attack  upon  him  in  some  pas- 
sages of  the  trial  was  very  bitter.  The  death  of  Mr.  Ken- 
nady  had  intensified  feeling.  The  prejudices  of  a  large 
portion  of  the  community  were  with  the  prosecution. 
At  the  beginning  the  prospects  of  the  defence  were  far 
from  assuring,  but  as  it  progressed  the  integrity,  the  hu- 
manity, the  courage  of  Professor  M'Clintock  became  so 
conspicuously  clear  as  to  sweep  away  all  hesitation.  Mr. 
Meredith  closed  for  the  defense  in  a  polished  address ; 
Mr.  Watts  (now  United  States  Commissioner  of  Agricul- 
ture) summed  up  for  the  prosecution,  and  struck  heavy 
blows;  but,  fortunately,  their  object  was  invulnerable. 
The  judge  charged  the  jury  fairly  enough,  and  on  Satur- 
day evening  gave  them  the  case.  By  Sunday  noon  it 
was  rumored  that  Professor  M'Clintock  was  acquitted, 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLLXTOCK.  165 

and  on  Monday  morning  the  jury  so  declared  in  their 
verdict.  Over  half  the  negroes  were  cleared,  and  thir- 
teeruconvicted. 

To  the  surprise  of  all  persons  who  were  present,  Judge 
Hepburn  protested  against  the  verdict,  and  especially 
the  acquittal  of  Professor  ^M'Clintock.  He  informed  the 
jury  that  if  the  case  had  been  one  involving  only  dollars 
and  cents  he  would  have  set  their  decision  aside.  He 
insisted  that  when  he  ordered  the  court-room  to  be 
cleared,  the  line  was  drawn  between  the  peaceable  and 
the  disorderly,  and  that  when  Professor  Al'dintock  told 
the  negroes  "  to  stand  their  ground  "  (which  he  never 
did  tell  them)  he  became  at  that  instant  a  rioter,  and  as 
guilty  of  all  the  acts  of  violence  as  though  he  had  taken 
part  in  their  commission.  The  bar  and  citizens  were 
astounded  by  this  breach  of  judicial  decorum.  The 
truth  was,  that  the  sheriff's  officers  had  undertaken  an 
illegal  service  in  assuming  to  guard  the  prisoners'  box, 
and  to  convert  the  court-room  into  a  prison,  after  the 
slaves  had  been  taken  out  of  their  hands,  and  remitted 
to  the  keeping  of  their  owners.  They  had  provoked  a 
breach  of  the  peace  by  going  outside  of  their  duty.  If, 
however,  the  judge's  opinion  was  against  the  verdict, 
far  different  was  that  of  the  community.  The  trial  had 
revolutionized  popular  feeling;  the  decision  of  the  jury 
on  the  facts  was  received  with  acclamation.  Congratu- 
lations from  all  quarters  poured  in  upon  the  much-tried 
professor.  His  friend,  Emory,  who,  prostrated  by  sick- 
ness, had  been  unable  to  attend  the  proceedings,  but 
had  in  the  preparations  for  them  been  a  confidential 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


adviser,  received  him  after  his  acquittal  with  the  warmest 
demonstrations  of  affection.  The  sharp  agony  over,  Pro- 
fessor M'Clintock  went  out  of  the  court  with  a  strojiger 
hold  upon  the  community  in  which  he  lived  and  the 
country  at  large  than  he  had  ever  had  before.  Some 
ill-disposed  newspapers  persisting  in  using  the  protest 
against  the  verdict  to  his  prejudice,  he  issued  a  card  to 
the  public  in  which  he  conclusively  reviewed  all  the  facts 
of  the  case.  Following  his  usual  practice  of  taking  the 
straightforward  way  to  an  object,  he  had,  in  October,  a 
long  interview  with  the  judge,  at  the  close  of  which  the 
latter  professed  that  his  opinions  had  undergone  a  mate- 
rial change.  After  this  the  subject  was  dropped  by 
them  both.  It  was  not  in  Professor  M'Clintock's  nature 
to  cherish  ill-will  against  any  one.  He  was  ready  to  be- 
lieve that  the  judge  had  taken  an  honest,  if  prejudiced, 
view  of  the  facts,  and  in  that  belief  he  rested. 

Of  the  thirteen  negroes  found  guilty,  ten  were  con- 
demned to  three  years'  imprisonment  in  the  Eastern  Peni- 
tentiary of  Pennsylvania,  at  labor,  and  to  pay  one  dollar 
fine  to  the  Commonwealth,  with  the  costs  of  the  prose- 
cution. This  was  a  terrible  and  unprecedented  penalty 
for  a  breach  of  the  peace.  Believing  it  to  be  illegal. 
Professor  M'Clintock  took  steps  to  have  the  sentence  re- 
viewed by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State.  He  con- 
sulted with  Charles  Gibbons,  Esq.,  of  the  Philadelphia 
bar,  and  the  result  was  a  writ  of  error  which  brought  the 
case  before  all  the  Supreme  judges  in  May,  1848.  The 
errors  assigned  were  (i)  the  imposition  of  imprisonment 
in  the  penitentiary  instead  of  the  county  jail,  and  (2)  the 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


167 


imposition  of  imprisonment  ''at  labor."  Judge  Burn- 
side,  in  delivering  the  unanimous  opinion  of  the  court, 
used  this  emphatic  language :  "  When  I  came  to  the 
bar  there  were  old  and  experienced  judges  on  the  bench 
and  aged  lawyers  in  practice,  but  I  never  heard  of  (or 
witnessed)  any  person  convicted  of  a  riot  being  sent  to 
the  penitentiary.  Our  laws  do  not  authorize  the  sen- 
tence inflicted  in  the  case  before  us,  and  the  sentence  is 
reversed.  As  the  prisoners  have  been  confined  in  the 
Eastern  Penitentiary  about  three  fourths  of  a  year,  we 
deem  this  as  severe  a  punishment  as  if  they  had  been 
confined  in  the  county  jail,  where  they  legitimately  should 
have  been  sent,  for  two  years.    They  are  discharged."^* 

The  triumph  of  the  good  citizen  could  go  no  farther. 
He  had  been  taunted  with  knowing  more  law  than  was 
for  his  good,  and  he  had  proved  that  his  understanding 
of  his  obligations  to  his  native  State  was  correct  beyond 
impeachment.  He  had  been  arrested  for  leading  a  riot, 
and  he  had  demonstrated  that  his  only  offence  had  been 
a  fearless  discharge  of  the  duties  of  humanity.  Acquitted 
himself,  he  had  followed,  with  compassionate  interest, 
the  poor  creatures  whom  he  had  on  the  second  of  June 
generously  tried  to  help,  and  had  set  in  motion  the  meas- 
ures which  secured  their  restoration  to  their  homes.  The 
alacrity  with  which  Mr.  Gibbons  performed  his  service  as 
counsel  entitled  him  to  all  honor.  It  was  a  triumph  for 
him,  too  ;  but  it  was  especially  a  triumph  of  justice,  the 
more  conspicuous,  because  it  relieved  those  whose  igno- 
rance and  lowliness  unfitted  them  to  protect  themselves. 

*  See  Penn.  State  Reports,  vol,  viii,  p.  223. 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


LETTERS  FROM  JANUARY,  1S47,  TO  JANUARV,  1848. 
I.  LETTEES  TO  DR.  M-CLI^'TOCK. 
I. 

Hot  Springs.  Juhj  20,  1S47. 

Dear  Sir:— I  had  written  to  Mr.  Adair  that  I  could  not  be  at 
your  court.  He  had  written  me  on  behalf  of  other  parties.  I  then 
thought  that  your  court  was  on  the  2d  and  3d  Mondays  of  August. 
Learning  from  you  that  it  is  on  the  25th,  I  will  make  every  effort  to 
be  there.  As  soon  as  I  get  home  (first  week  in  August)  I  shall  be 
able  to  give  you  a  definite  answer.  I  desire  to  aid  in  the  defence, 
if  possible,  although  you  have  able  counsel. 

With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

Thaddeus  Stevens. 

Prof.  JoHX  M'Clintock. 

II. 

Lancaster,  Any.  2,  1547. 

Dear  Sir  : — On  my  return  home  I  find  so  large  a  number  of  suits 
in  which  I  am  concerned  on  the  trial  list  for  the  fourth  Monday  of 
August,  that  I  fear  it  will  be  out  of  my  power  to  be  at  your  court  that 
week.  I  felt  a  great  desire  to  aid  in  that  trial  because  of  certain 
principles  which  I  thought  ought  to  be  maintained  before  the  juries 
of  this  countr)-  in  all  similar  cases.  But  I  confess  I  feel  the  wish  to 
be  engaged  in  your  defence  somewhat  abated  since  I  have  seen  the 
declaratiion  of  your  principles  and  views  as  promulgated  by  the  trus- 
tees and  president  of  your  college,  as  I  fear  the  stand  which  I  should 
take  (on  inalienable  rights  and  the  Declaration  of  Independence) 
would  conflict  with  those  views,  and  the  views  of  other  counsel,  and 
might  injure  your  institution.  I  fear  I  could  not  repress  my  feelings 
within  what  your  trustees  would  deem  prudence,  although  I  doubt 
not  with  a  fair  jury  such  a  bold  and  trtie  course  would  insure  your 
acquittal.  But  your  case  is  in  able  hands,  and  will  not  suffer  by 
my  absence.  With  great  respect, 

Thaddeus  Stevens. 

Prof.  M"Cli>-tock. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


169 


III. 

Lancaster,  Aug.  9,  1347. 
Dear  Sir: — I  do  not  find  it  in  my  power  to  mal<;e  my  arrange- 
ments so  as  to  attend  your  court.  I  have  too  many  causes  on  the 
list  for  that  week  to  be  able  to  arrange  with  all.  I  doubt  not  of  your 
acquittal,  but  I  fear  for  the  colored  defendants.  Their  sh'n  testi- 
fies against  them  in  this  Christian  community. 
With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

Thaddeus  Stevens. 

Eev.  J.  M'Clintock. 

IV. 

HortKSTOwv,  Baltimore  Co.,  Md.,  Jiuie  21,  1S47. 

Reverend  Sir  and  Brother  : — I  cannot  refrain  from  express- 
ing my  indignation  at  the  vile  attempts  that  have  been  recently  made 
to  impeach  your  character.  How  much  easier  it  is  to  slander  and 
persecute  an  opponent  who  is  in  the  right  than  to  neutralize  the 
force  of  his  arguments.  You  need  not  marvel,  therefore,  at  the  treat- 
ment you  have  experienced.  You  recollect  De  Foe's  "  Hymn  to  the 
Pillory."  Your  persecution  reminds  me  of  those  famous  lines  which 
have  been  so  often  quoted  : — 

"Tell  ihem  the  men  that  placed  him  there 
Are  scandals  to  the  times; 
Are  at  a  loss  to  find  his  g'uilt, 
Atid  canH  commit  hits  crimes.'''' 

O  if  you  knew  how  many  prayers  have  gone  up  to  God  since  your 
first  article  was  published  in  the  Advocate,  that  your  strength  might 
not  fail,  you  could  not  be  disheartened  !  There  are  thousands  whose 
hearts  beat  in  unison  with  yours,  and  yet,  alas  !  how'  few,  like  Luther, 
are  willing  to  brave  a  threatening  world,  and  give  utterance  to  the 
truths  in  w^ords  like  these:  "It  is  neither  safe  nor  prudent  to  do 
aught  against  conscience.  Here  stand  I.  I  cannot  otherwise.  God 
assist  me.  Amen." 

That  the  Lord  Jehovah  may  bless  and  comfort  you  is  the  prayer  of 
your  unworthy  brother  in  Christ.  JOHN  M.  JONES. 


I  JO 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


V. 

AxTiSLAVEET  OFFICE,  Philadf.t.puia,  June  10,  1S47. 

Professor  M'Clintock  : — 

My  Dear  Sir  : — I  take  the  liberty  of  inclosing  you  an  authenticated 
copy  of  the  late  Act  of  Assembly  of  this  State  in  relation  to  fugitive 
slaves.  You  may  possibly  have  occasion  to  refer  to  it  and  may  not 
be  in  possession  of  one  duly  authenticated. 

Allow  me  at  the  same  time  to  avail  myself  of  the  opportunity  of 
expressing  to  you  the  interest  and  gratification  with  which  I  have 
watched  your  progress  for  some  time  on  the  great  question  of  slav- 
try.  1  have  rejoiced  to  see  your  eyes  opened  to  so  good  a  degree  to 
the  enormities  of  this  system,  to  the  guilt  of  the  Church  in  relation  to 
it,  and  the  duty  of  energetic  action  for  its  overthrow.  The  late  occur- 
rence in  Carlisle,  in  which  I  perceive  you  took  a  prominent,  and,  from 
the  malevolence  with  which  you  are  assailed  for  it  I  should  infer  an 
honorable  part,  has  much  increased  my  interest  in  your  behalf. 
Unless  Carlisle  has  greatly  changed  for  the  better  since  I  was  one 
of  its  residents,  your  liberal  views  of  truth  and  duty  find  but  little 
sympathy  from  those  around  you.  "  Open  thy  mouth  for  the  dumb  ; 
plead  the  cause  of  the  poor  and  needy,"  does  ver)'  well  to  fill  up  the 
rhetoric  of  a  studied  sermon  ;  but  when  reduced  to  every-day  practice, 
and  especially  when  applied  to  the  degraded  slave  and  his  despised 
brethren  here  at  the  North,  it  is  quite  another  thing.  Woe  to  the 
man  that  is  guilty  of  such  extravagance  !  His  name  is  cast  out  as 
evil ;  he  is  branded  as  a  disorganizer  in  the  Church  and  a  disturber 
of  the  peace  of  society.  Possibly  you  may  not  have  yet  gone  far 
enough  to  incur  all  this  odium.  The  regularity  and  conformity  to 
prevailing  usage  of  your  previous  ways  may  have  acquired  for  you  a 
stock  of  character  sufficient  to  save  your  reputation  from  the  hostility 
which  your  late  course  was  calculated  to  awaken.  But  if  you  per- 
sist, my  dear  sir,  be  assured  that  all  this  odium,  and  more,  will  come 
upon  you. 

Such  views  of  Christian  truth  and  duty  as  you  have  avowed  the 
Church  will  not  tolerate,  nor  the  world  away  with — at  least  not  in 
any  other  form  than  the  abstract.     I  trust  you  have  duly  consid- 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


171 


ered  this  ;  that  you  have  counted  the  cost.  Excuse  me  if  I  confess 
that  in  this  regard  I  feel  much  soHcitude  for  you.  Not  that  I  have 
any  fears  of  your  deliberately  going  back  from  any  clear  convictions 
of  duty ;  but  lest,  in  the  clamor  your  Christian-like  course  will  raise, 
you  should  allow  the  remonstrances  and  expostulations  of  those 
whom  you  may  regard  as  fathers  and  brethren,  wiser  and  better  than 
yourself,  to  shake  you  in  your  conclusions,  and  persuade  you  to  sub- 
stitute their  views  of  duty  for  your  own.  Many  have  been  led  away 
from  the  truth,  under  circumstances  like  these,  by  an  improper  confi- 
dence in  others.  I  trust  you  will  be  enabled  to  resist  all  such  influ- 
ences. May  God  strengthen  you,  and  enable  you  to  set  your  face 
like  a  flint ;  confer  not  with  flesh  and  blood  !  You  have  a  work  to 
do  ;  take  counsel  only  of  Him  who  sends  you.  Remember  that  "  if 
any  man — ajiy  man — will  live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus,  he  shall  suffer 
persecution."  But,  then,  "  blessed  are  ye  when  men  shall  revile  you  and 
persecute  you,  and  say  all  manner  of  evil  against  you  falsely  for  my 
sake.  Rejoice  and  be  exceeding  glad,  for  great  is  your  reward  ;  for 
so  persecuted  they  the  prophets  which  were  before  you."  But  why 
need  I  quote  this  ?  It  is  all  familiar  to  you,  and  perhaps  more  so 
than  to  me.  Such  passages,  however,  come  to  one's  mind  on  occa- 
sions like  the  present.  If  not  too  much  trouble,  please  drop  me  a  line 
saying  how  much,  if  any,  truth  there  is  in  the  statement  copied  into 
the  "  Ledger  "  of  Tuesday  from  the  "  Hagerstown  News,"  that  you 
urged  on  the  colored  people  to  rescue  those  slaves  in  the  riot  case. 
It  is  not  a  matter  of  much  importance,  but  I  feel  some  curiosity  to 
know. 

Yours,  in  much  sympathy,  J.  M.  M'KiM. 

VI. 

Jefferson,  Ouio,  July  IS,  1S4T. 

My  Dear  Sir  :  We  have  seen  notices  in  the  newspapers  of  a  riot 
at  Carlisle  in  consequence  of  attempts  to  retake  fugitive  slaves.  We 
now  see  it  announced  that  a  Mr.  Kennady  lately  died  of  wounds  re- 
ceived in  such  riot.  It  is  also  stated  that  the  friends  of  Mr.  Kennady 
charge  you  with  his  murder,  and  are  about  to  institute  proceedings 


i;2 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


at  law  to  punish  you  for  the  aid  you  lent  the  fug-itives.  Censute  is 
also  thrown  out  against  the  court,  which  seems  to  have  in  some  way 
been  called  to  decide  some  questions  ;  but  we  have  as  yet  no  distinct 
statement  of  the  facts  connected  with  the  transaction.  Indeed,  we 
are  entirely  ig-norant  of  the  circumstances  attending  it.  For  the  pur- 
pose of  information  I  now  respectfully  ask  a  statement  of  the  material 
facts  for  my  own  satisfaction,  and,  if  agreeable  to  you,  for  publication, 
as  all  matters  relating  to  our  connexion  with  southern  slaver}-  are 
interesting  to  our  people. 

That  fugitive  slaves  have  the  clearest  moral  and  legal  right  to  de- 
fend themselves  against  their  masters,  or  their  masters'  agents,  when 
on  the  soil  of  Pennsylvania  or  Ohio,  I  think  no  reputable  lawyer  will 
deny,  even  though  in  such  defence  they  should  slay  their  masters  and 
all  who  assist  their  masters  to  arrest  them.  It  is  equally  clear  that 
ever)'  man  possesses  the  right  to  inform  such  slaves  of  their  privi- 
leges while  in  our  territor)-.  We  may  instruct  them  fully,  we  may 
furnish  them  arms  for  the  purpose  of  defending  themselves,  without 
incurring  any  liability.  Indeed,  I  should  regard  such  an  act  as  a 
high  moral  duty.  The  slaveholder  of  Virginia  is  guilty  of  as  great  an 
outrage  upon  the  laws  of  God  and  the  rights  of  man,  when  he  comes 
upon  Ohio  soil  to  arrest  his  fellow-man  and  force  him  into  servitude, 
as  he  is  when  he  goes  to  Africa  for  the  purpose  of  kidnapping  the 
unoffending  people  of  that  country  to  bring  them  into  slaver)-. 

But  we  permit  slaveholders  to  come  upon  our  own  soil  and  seize 
our  fellow-men  and  drag  them  into  interminable  bondage,  under  our 
constitutional  compact.  That  compact  must  be  observed.  Accord- 
ing to  the  decisions  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court,  we  are  not 
permitted  to  defend  the  slave  against  his  master.  Second,  we  may 
not  secrete  the  slave  from  his  master :  and,  third,  we  must  not  rescue 
the  slave  from  his  master's  custody.  Here  our  duties  under  the  Con- 
stitution cease.  Beyond  them  we  may  act  according  to  the  dictates 
of  humanity  and  justice.  The  slave  has  made  no  stipulations,  nor 
has  the  Constitution  nor  the  law  of  Congress  prohibited  him  from 
the  exercise  of  his  natural  right  of  self-defence.  That  great  first  law 
of  nature  remains  in  full  force  in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  although 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


the  slave  States  have  declared  it  obsolete  within  their  territory,  and 
have  affixed  the  penalty  of  death  to  its  exercise  by  any  slave  within 
their  bounds.  They  have  given  to  the  master  or  his  agent  the  right 
to  shoot  a  slave  who  runs  from  him  when  ordered  to  stop  ;  they  have 
given  to  the  white  man  the  privilege  of  killing  any  slave  who  raises 
his  hand  against  such  white  man,  even  in  self-defence  ;  but,  thank 
God  !  those  laws  are  confined  to  such  States  ;  they  have  no  existence 
in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  And  when  the  slave  crosses  the  State  line 
and  enters  either  Ohio  or  Pennsylvania,  he  instantly  regains  the  right 
to  defend  himself,  the  same  as  every  other  American  being  within  our 
States  possesses.  Did  I  say  he  regained  the  right  ?  I  will  add,  he 
reassumes  the  duty  of  self-defence.  To  defend  his  right  to  the  enjoy- 
ment of  life  and  liberty  with  which  God  has  endowed  him,  becomes 
in  him  a  paramount  duty.  He  does  not  possess  the  moral  right 
tamely  to  surrender  up  his  own  liberty,  or  that  of  his  offspring  in 
coming  time,  to  the  will  of  a  barbarous  master.  Cowardice  in  such 
case  becomes  criminal ;  and  although  we  have  stipulated  that  we 
will  not  protect  him,  we  leave  him  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  his  own 
right  of  self-protection.  I  am  myself  no  advocate  of  non-resistance 
in  such  cases.  On  the  contrary,  for  many  years  I  have,  when  called 
on  for  professional  advice,  directed  such  fugitive  slaves  to  arm  them- 
selves, and  in  case  their  masters  should  press  them  and  they  should 
have  no  other  mode  of  escape,  to  kill  such  master  or  their  agents, 
whether  few  or  many. 

It  occurs  to  me  that  possibly  a  new  question  may  arise  at  Carlisle  ; 
one  that  has  never  been  discussed  to  my  knowledge.  I  under- 
stand that  some  people  of  your  place  aided  the  fugitives  in  defending 
themselves  ;  perhaps  it  was  colored  people,  but  that  does  not  alter  the 
case.  Such  persons  would  undoubtedly  be  liable  civilly  for  the  pen- 
alty provided  by  act  of  Congress  of  1793,  as  it  would  be  a  violation 
of  our  compact ;  but  would  such  persons  be  liable  to  a  criminal 
prosecution  for  such  act,  even  if  they  killed  the  master  or  his  as- 
sistants while  actually  defending  the  fugitive  slaves  ?  May  they  not 
defend  the  fugitive  as  they  may  a  citizen  of  Pennsylvania,  so  far  as 
the  laws  of  Pennsylvania  are  concerned  ?    Is  there  any  act  of  your 


174 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


legislature  declaring  such  defence  punishable  ?  There  is  no  such  law 
of  the  United  States,  and  if  your  citizens  can  be  punished  criminally 
for  such  act,  it  must  be  under  your  own  laws. 

I  trust  that  should  legal  prosecutions  be  instituted  in  regard  to 
those  fugitives,  or  the  death  of  Mr.  Kennady,  that  the  attention  of 
legal  gentlemen  will  be  turned  to  this  subject,  and  that  the  people  of 
our  free  States  will  claim,  that  in  assisting  to  arrest  fugitive  slaves, 
they  incur  the  danger  of  being  slain  with  impunity  by  such  slaves  or 
their  friends.  I  commenced  with  the  intention  of  soliciting  facts,  but 
have  been  led  into  a  legal  essay.    Please  excuse  my  truant  pen. 

Very  respectfully,  J.  M.  GlDDlNGS. 

Trofessor  M'Clintock. 

P.S.  I  would  not  say  that  Congress  has  not  the  power  to  declare 
it  criminal  for  a  slave  to  defend  himself,  or  for  any  other  person  to 
defend  him ;  but  I  only  say  it  has  not  done  so  as  yet. 

n.  LETTEKS  FROM  DR.  M'CLINTOCK,  AND  ms  CARD  TO  THE 
PUBLIC. 

L 

Carlisle,  June  10, 1847. 

Your  letter  was  duly  received,  and  thank  you  for  it,  too.  There  is 
no  ground  for  uneasiness  at  all  on  my  account,  as  you  will  see  from 
the  papers  in  which  the  students'  statement  is  given.  All  is  quiet 
here.  I  have  done  nothing,  you  may  be  assured,  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree wrong,  and  even  Dr.  Emory  says  that  I  was  not  imprudent ;  so 
you  may  rest  assured  that  all  will  go  well.  I  simply  obeyed  the  dic- 
tates of  justice  and  humanity — that's  all. 

We  are  all  very  well ;  all  this  disturbance  has  not  lost  us  a  night's 
rest  or  the  enjoyment  of  a  meal's  victuals.  To  be  persecuted  by  the 
vile  and  wicked  is  surely  no  ground  for  unhappiness,  and  I  do  not 
intend  to  be  unhappy  or  even  uneasy.  The  judge  is  doubtless  mor- 
tified because  it  has  leaked  out  all  over  the  country  that  he  did  not 
know  the  law,  but  I  have  no  doubt  he  will  do  me  justice  when  the 
case  comes  up  for  decision  in  court.  As  for  my  leaving  the  college 
I  have  been  ready  to  do  it  at  any  time  for  years  past,  and  am  even 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


1/5 


anxious  to  do  it  now,  so  nobody  need  be  troubled  on  that  score. 
The  southern  students  are  unanimous  in  declaring  that  I  shall  not 
leave  the  institution. 

The  children  are  fat  and  hearty.  Caroline  has  not  given  way  in 
the  least  amid  all  this  tumult.    She  has  too  much  pluck  for  that. 

I  have  written  so  much  to-day  that  really  I  can  write  no  more. 

Miss  Jane  M'Clixtock. 

II. 

Carlisle,  Jane  10,  1847. 

Dear  Father  :  You  will  have  seen,  before  this  reaches  you,  the 
statements  in  the  papers  in  regard  to  my  sharing  in  the  riot  here  and 
their  contradictions.  It  is  only  another  instance  of  the  persecuting 
spirit  of  slaver)-'  and  its  abettors  that  this  base  attempt  to  injure  me 
should  thus  foully  be  carried  on. 

I  did  nothing  that  was  not  perfectly  legal — nothing  that  would  not 
have  been  done  by  any  man  of  common  humanity  under  like  circum- 
stances. My  presence  at  the  court-house  was  purely  accidental.  It 
happened  that  I  knew  the  law,  which  the  judge  and  justice  did  not ; 
but  that  is  no  crime. 

It  is  needless  for  me  to  write  you  details  of  the  riot,  and  besides, 
I  am  too  busy  to  write  much  at  length.  Be  assured  that  all  will 
come  right.  The  lawsuits  may  be  expensive,  but  my  friends  will 
doubtless  help  me.  We  are  all  very  well.  The  students  are  perfectly 
satisfied  that  all  these  charges  are  false. 

Mr.  John  M'Clintock. 

III. 

Carlisle,  June  16,  IMl. 

I  don't  know  how  you  got  the  notion  that  Caroline  took  sick  about 
this  riot  business ;  but  you  were  never  more  mistaken.  It  did  not 
trouble  her  in  that  way  at  all.  She  has  entirely  too  much  substance 
to  give  up  in  that  fashion. 

I  think  you  are  pretty  well  aware  of  the  state  of  facts  here.  All 
the  faculty  and  all  the  students,  northern  and  southern,  are  with  me. 
The  substantial  middle  class  of  the  town  are  with  me.  The  upper 
crust  and  the  rabble  are  with  the  slaveholders.    The  former  have 


i;6 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


too  much  fellowship  with  the  aristocracy  of  slavemasters  not  to  be 
on  their  side  :  the  latter,  as  usual,  try  to  keep  up  a  depth  lower  than 
their  own,  and  the  blacks  serve  that  end.  The  indictment  will  run 
against  me  along  with  twenty  or  twenty-live  other  negroes,  and  will 
go  so  before  the  grand  jury,  who  may  ignore  the  bill  in  my  case  if 
they  choose.  But  that  is  not  likely,  as  some  of  the  fellows  will  swear 
awfully — so  that  I  shal'  have  to  meet  the  matter  in  court,  August  25. 
Then  I  shall  be  tried  with  all  the  blacks — though  it  seems  strange 
law  to  me  if  I  cannot  have  a  separate  trial.  But  of  all  that  in  its 
time. 

The  slaveowners  have  gathered  up  all  the  evidence  they  could  here 
in  the  shape  of  depositions,  and  published  it  with  variations  and 
ornaments  in  "The  Hagerstown  Torchlight."  I  have  since  received 
Maryland  and  Virginia  papers  which  refuse  to  copy  from  "  The 
Torchlight,"  stating  their  disbelief  of  the  yarn.  But  if  they  swear 
to  all  that  is  in  that  paper  they  will  commit  fearful  perjury,  and  will 
probably  convict  your  humble  servant,  and  give  him  some  thousand 
dollars  fine  and  costs,  with  a  year  in  the  penitentiary.  Moreover,  the 
slavemen  are  gathering  their  witnesses  with  a  view  to  suit  in  the  Cir- 
cuit Court  of  the  United  States,  and  if  I  am  cast  here,  they  will  push 
it  there.  But  I  don't  think  they  will  attempt  it  if  the  grand  jury  ignore 
the  bill,  or  I  am  acquitted.  So  now,  I  reckon,  you  know  as  much  as 
I  do. 

Let  the  thing  go  as  it  may,  I  have  nothing  wherewith  to  accuse 
myself.  In  any  issue  it  cannot  but  do  good  ;  and  so  I  thank  God 
and  take  courage.  It  may  embarrass  my  purse  for  some  years,  but, 
if  my  health  and  strength  continue,  I  have  no  fears  on  that  score. 
And  my  friends  have  stood  by  me  like  wax — all  that  I  have  deemed 
to  be  my  friends. 

The  southern  trus  iees  will  probably  come  up  boiling  with  wrath,  to 
have  me  expelled.  Bless  their  dear  hearts  I  they  need  not  tiouble 
themselves.  I  am  ready  enough  to  go  any  minute  of  the  year ;  nay, 
I  shall  clap  my  hands  with  joy  to  get  rid  of  all  these  petty  vexa- 
tions and  annoyances.  In  case  I  leave  this  fall,  I  shall  ask  you  to 
rent  a  small  house  for  us  in  Jersey  City,  or  to  hire  us  half  yours,  or  to 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  177 


board  us  until  spring,  whichever  you  may  find  most  agreeable— always 
provided  I  am  not  in  limbo. 

Mr.  E,  B.  Wakkman, 

IV. 

Carlisle,  July  1, 1S47. 

Emory  thinks  that  I  should  institute  a  libel  suit  against  "  The 
Herald  "  before  the  trial  comes  off  here  ;  or,  at  least,  take  the  pre- 
liminary proceedings  thereto.  All  this  slander  and  abuse  will  work 
good  in  the  end,  not  only  to  the  antislavery  cause,  but  to  myself 
personally.  Of  that  I  am  well  assured.  But  the  parties  who  have 
got  up  the  prosecution,  backed  by  the  gold  of  the  slaveholders,  will 
strain  every  nerve  to  convict  me.  Perjury  by  wholesale  will  not  be 
spared. 

Nothing  could  be  more  absurd  than  the  attempt  to  connect  Mr. 
Kennady's  death  with  his  wounds.  He  was  rapidly  recovering  from 
the  latter,  was  very  well  on  Thursday  night,  ate  freely  of  sponge 
cake,  against  the  prohibition  of  his  physician,  and  died  at  four  o'clock 
in  the  morning. 

There  is  little  or  no  excitement  here.    The  examinations  are  now 
going  on  prosperously.    The  trustees  meet  on  Wednesday  next.  Of 
course  they  will  sustain  me — or  the  college  will  be  broken  up  at  once. 
Mr.  E.  B.  Wakeman. 

V. 

Carlisle,  Aug.  15,  1847. 

I  thank  you  for  your  assurance  of  presence  and  countenance  next 
week.  It  is  just  what  I  expected  of  you.  Why  can't  you  make  your 
fixings  so  as  to  be  here  on  Saturday  night  ?  Then  you  can  spend 
Sunday  with  us  quietly  and  comfortably.  As  for  court  week,  you 
know,  I  shall  not  have  much  time  or  opportunity  to  talk  with  you. 
Pack  up,  then,  and  be  here  on  Saturday  night.  One  day  cannot 
make  much  difference,  as  we  shall  expect  you  on  Monday  night  at 
any  rate.    But  I  shall  look  for  you  in  the  cars  on  Saturday. 

Meredith  is  coming  from  Philadelphia  in  my  behalf.    He  stands  at 

the  head  of  the  bar,  but  what  kind  of  criminal  lawyer  he  is  I  don't 

know.    I  don't  apprehend  any  thing  awful.    It  would  have  been  a 
12 


178 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


great  comfort  to  have  had  Stevens  here  to  score  the  southerners,  but 
he  could  not  come. 

Bonham  tells  me  I  can  take  the  "  Herald  "  to  our  grand  jury,  find  a 
bin,  and  have  a  requisition  on  the  governor  of  New  York  for  Ben- 
nett's body,  bring  him  and  try  him.  What  would  you  think  of  that  ? 
May  be  I  shall  do  it  with  the  Maryland  fellows. 

Good-bye,  I  have  various  epistles  to  write,  and  it  is  very  hot. 

Mr.  E.  B.  Wakeman. 

VL 

Carlisle,  Oct.  6,  1S47. 

Dear  Robert  : — We  all  concur  in  opinion  that  you  have  done 
wisely  in  not  returning  here,  although  it  would  be  pleasanter  to  see 
you  again  before  you  sail.  The  arrangements  for  your  departure  are 
now  finally  made,  I  see,  as  father  informs  me  in  a  letter  to-day  that 
he  has  taken  passage  for  you  and  Mrs.  E.  in  the  "Emily."  I  wish  I 
could  go  to  Philadelphia  to  see  you  off.  Nothing,  you  may  be  sure, 
but  college  prevents  me  from  going.  I  have  lost  so  many  days  al- 
ready that  I  must  not  absent  myself  further.  But  I  can  pray  for  you, 
and  do,  that  you  may  have  a  prosperous  voyage,  and  a  restoration  to 
health  and  strength  as  its  consequence. 

I  wanted  to  have  a  long  talk  with  you  \yhile  here,  but  it  could  not  be. 
It  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  speak  gratitude  to  you  for  all  your  kind 
friendship  to  me,  and  especially  for  its  manifestation  in  the  recent 
trial  case.  You  know,  as  well  as  I  can  tell  you,  that  I  value  you  more 
than  any  living  man,  next  only  to  those  of  my  own  blood,  and  hardly 
next  even  to  them.  It  pains  me  deeply  to  think  that  anxiety  in  re- 
gard to  my  case  may  have  contributed  to  aggravate  your  disease 
last  month.  I  feel  so  deeply,  too,  my  unworthiness  of  your  regard 
that  I  sometimes  blame  myself  for  allowing  you  to  be  here  at  all, 
while  at  the  same  time  your  sympathy  and  approval  were  worth  as 
much  to  me  as  all  the  world's  besides. 

All  these  trials  that  you  and  I  pass  through  must  be  designed  for 
some  good  end.  In  my  own  case  I  can  see  their  necessity,  in  yours 
I  cannot.  But  He  knows  who  inflicts  them.  What  troubles  me 
most  is,  that  I  cannot  see  any  improvement  in  my  moral  character 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


1/9 


from  them  ;  I  cannot  feel  that  I  am  more  humble,  more  holy,  than  I 
was  years  ago,  before  the  hea\y  course  of  afflictions  began  to  which  I 
and  my  family  have  been  subjected.  It  ought  not  to  be  so  ;  it  must 
not  be  so.  Thoughts  like  these  have  occupied  my  mind  a  great  deal 
during  the  last  week,  confined  as  I  have  been ;  I  trust  that  good  will 
come  of  them.  Sometimes  I  think  that  this  listless,  lifeless,  loveless 
life  would  be  changed  if  I  were  preaching  at  an  appointment ;  and 
then  again  I  know  that  intercourse  with  God  does  not  depend  on 
time  or  place,  and  think  that  I  am  trying  to  throw  the  blame  upon 
negotta  that  ought  to  lie  at  my  own  door.  Again,  I  think  of  falling 
back  upon  the  old-fashioned  Methodist  life,  even  here  at  home, 
prayers  with  preachers,  and  such  like  ;  and  then  the  fear  of  cant  and 
pretence  comes  over  me  like  a  shower  bath.  But  I  did  not  intend 
to  go  on  in  this  strain  when  I  commenced.  Still  I  feel  better  for 
it,  and  if  you  don't,  you  have  excused  me  so  often  that  you  are  used 
to  it. 

I  wish  you  to  send  me  the  best  directions  you  can  about  letters  to 
you  before  you  leave,  and  to  communicate  promptly  afterward  where 
and  how  we  shall  direct  to  you.  If  you  wish  newspapers  sent,  say 
so,  and  what ;  and  any  thing  else  that  I  can  do,  only  let  me  know 
and  it  shall  be  done,  if  I  have  health  and  strength.  With  the  letter 
to  the  "  Public  "  I  have  thrown  off  that  riot  business  forever,  I  trust, 
and  shall  now  devote  myself  entirely  to  college  work  and  writing. 
My  health  is  unpromising,  however ;  this  bronchial  attack  still  hangs 
on,  and  such  a  thing  at  the  beginning  of  autumn  portends  badly. 
But  I  hope  it  will  soon  be  over. 

The  college  is  doing  admirably  well,  classes  very  full,  and  of  very 
good  material,  too.  I  do  not  think  any  thing  can  break  us  down 
except  our  own  negligence  or  ill-health.  During  the  present  year  I 
hope  to  exert  myself  more  successfully  than  ever,  and  then  to  wind 
up  my  work  here  next  spring.  But  of  that  I  do  not  talk  at  present. 
And  now  I  stop  ;  will  write  to  you  again  at  Philadelphia.  Do  not 
reply  except  to  answer  the  business  questions  I  have  put  to  you ;  I 
know  that  writing  is  not  good  for  you. 
Eev.  President  Emoey. 


i8o 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


vn. 

TO  THE  PUBLIC. 

Although  my  name  has  been  connected  with  the  Carlisle  riot  of 
the  second  of  June  by  the  public  prints  in  nearly  all  parts  of  the 
country,  I  have  thus  far  made  no  statement  of  the  case  in  my  own 
behalf.  Notwithstanding  the  exaggerated,  and  even  absurd,  reports 
which  gained  currency  before  the  trial,  I  did  not  deem  it  proper  to 
make  any  such  statement  until  the  trial  itself  should  have  been  held  ; 
nor  had  I  supposed  it  would  be  necessary  even  then,  as,  from  my 
knowledge  of  the  facts,  I  could  not  rationally  look  for  any  thing  else 
but  an  acquittal,  which  heretofore  (at  least,  in  other  than  political 
trials)  has  been  generally  deemed  among  civilized  men  satisfactor)' 
proof  of  innocence.  But  as  I  find  that  attempts  are  still  made  in 
certain  newspapers,  especially  in  Mar)land  and  Virginia,  to  blacken 
my  character  upon  the  ground  that  the  presiding  judge  protested 
against  the  verdict,  leaving  it  to  be  inferred  that  the  twelve  gentle- 
men of  Cumberland  County  who  formed  the  jury  did  not  render  a  true 
one  according  to  the  evidence,  although  bound  by  their  oaths  to  do 
so,  I  deem  it  due  to  myself  to  offer  a  few  words  for  the  consid- 
eration of  all  honorable  (not  to  say  Christian)  men,  whether  north  or 
south  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line. 

Without  entering  into  any  minute  details,  I  now  simply  state,  upon 
my  own  personal  veracity,  that  my  first  know^ledge  of  the  case  was 
obtained  while  accidentally  passing  the  court-house  at  about  5  P.  M., 
although  the  slaves  were  arrested  as  early  as  nine  or  ten  o'clock  in 
the  morning ;  that  I  entered  the  court-house  under  the  impression, 
derived  from  a  clergyman  at  the  door,  that  there  was  no  sufficient 
proof  that  the  woman  and  child  were  slaves  ;  that  I  knew  nothing  of 
the  persons  or  character  of  the  gentlemen  claiming  the  slaves ;  that 
my  efforts  in  the  case  were  directed  to  legal  proceedings  and  none 
other  ;  that  no  word  or  act  of  mine  was  uttered  or  done  with  refer- 
ence to  forcible  or  riotous  resistance ;  that  the  riot  was  a  source  of 
the  profoundest  pain  to  me  ;  and  that  no  man  regretted  its  unhappy 
consequences  more  deeply  than  myself. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


I8l 


This  statement,  I  say,  is  made  upon  my  own  personal  veracity, 
which  will,  I  know,  be  a  sufficient  guarantee  for  its  truthfulness  with 
my  friends  in  the  Southern  as  well  as  in  the  Northern  States.  The 
substance  of  it  was  amply  proved  upon  the  trial,  and  on  that  proof 
the  jur)-  acquitted  me,  as  no  intelligent  jur)-  could  have  failed  to  do. 
I  think  that  any  right-minded  man  who  will  examine  the  testimony 
on  both  sides,  even  as  given  in  the  imperfect  newspaper  reports,  (that 
of  the  "Carlisle  Democrat  "  being  the  most  complete,  though  even 
that  is  imperfect,)  will  be  able  to  explain  it  in  accordance  with  the 
above  statement.  I  have  no  disposition  to  complain  of  the  witnesses 
for  the  prosecution  ;  least  of  all  to  charge  any  of  them  with  perjury. 
My  acts  and  words  were  misunderstood  by  them  at  the  time  ;  and 
under  a  wrong  view  of  my  objects,  they  involuntarily  gave  the  color- 
ing of  their  own  feelings  to  what  they  saw  and  heard.  All  men  are 
liable  to  do  this,  especially  in  cases  suggestive  of  prejudice  or  passion  ; 
and  every  one  knows  that  questions  involving  the  interests  of  the 
colored  race  are  of  this  sort.  In  the  recent  trial,  acts,  and  even 
words,  testified  to  by  witnesses  for  the  prosecution,  bore  a  \txy  dif- 
ferent aspect  when  stated  by  those  for  the  defence  ;  thus  verifying  at 
least  one  sense  of  the  maxim,  cuin  duo  diciint  idem,  non  est  idem. 
Many  of  the  witnesses  for  the  Commonwealth  are  personally  un- 
known to  me  ;  but  I  do  not  think  that  any  of  them  would  charge  me 
with  intending  to  excite  a  riot. 

It  is  very  true,  that  so  far  as  the  judge's  opinion,  publicly  announced 
after  the  verdict  and  since  widely  circulated  in  the  newspapers  can 
go,  I  stand  before  the  American  public  branded  as  a  rioter.  But  I 
have  the  satisfaction  to  know  that  men  learned  in  the  law,  older 
and  wiser  than  he,  and  more  experienced  in  sifting  testimony, 
who  carefully  attended  to  the  trial  throughout,  with  no  interest  in 
my  conviction  or  acquittal  beyond  the  interest  of  truth  and  justice, 
were  satisfied  that  my  conduct  was  vindicated  by  the  evidence,  and 
that  the  verdict  of  the  jury  was  a  most  true  and  righteous  one. 
That  some  mistakes  were  committed  by  the  jur)"  in  regard  to  the 
colored  defendants  is  not  to  be  wondered  at.    There  were,  I  think. 


l82 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


thirty-six  persons  embraced  in  the  indictment,  of  whom  twenty-nine 
were  put  upon  their  trial ;  and  although  the  counsel  for  the  defence 
asked  that  my  trial  should  be  separated  from  that  of  the  colored  de- 
fendants, on  the  ground  that  the  minds' of  the  jury  must  necessarily 
be  confused  by  the  amount  of  testimony  that  would  be  offered,  the 
Court  refused  to  separate.  A  Mansfield  could  not  have  kept  the 
multitudinous  evidence  in  regard  to  all  the  defendants  clearly  before 
his  mind  without  careful  notes  ;  and  even  then  he  might  have  been 
puzzled,  as  the  bar  certainly  were  in  one  or  two  instances  on  the  re- 
cent trial.  Moreover,  the  grand  jury  returned  a  wrong  name  in 
finding  a  bill  against  Rachel  Johnson,  instead  of  Richard.  The 
traverse  jury  were  sworn  upon  the  indictment  thus  found  ;  and  when 
(after  the  trial  had  gone  on  for  some  time)  the  mistake  was  de- 
tected, the  bill,  without  the  consent  of  the  traverse  jury  or  the  coun- 
sel for  the  defendants,  was  sent  back  to  the  grand  jury,  kept  by 
them  during  the  adjournment  of  the  court,  and  returned  with  the 
name  corrected.  The  prosecuting  attorney,  with  the  consent  of  the 
court,  but  without  that  of  the  defendants,  then  entered  a  nolle  pro- 
sequi against  Richard  Johnson,  and  the  trial  proceeded  without 
the  traverse  jury  being  again  sworn.  With  what  reason  the  jury 
can  be  blamed,  therefore,  for  accidental  error  in  their  verdict,  I 
leave  for  all  impartial  men  to  decide  ;  especially,  when  it  is  added 
that  their  attention  was  withdrawn  from  the  colored  defendants  to  a 
great  extent,  and  concentrated  upon  myself,  throughout  the  trial,  by 
the  course  of  the  pleadings.  The  result  of  this  concentrated  atten- 
tion was  a  verdict  of  acquittal  in  my  behalf. 

My  cordial  thanks  are  due  to  the  citizens  of  Carlisle,  who  have 
shown  me  so  much  kindness  during  the  progress  of  this  trial,  and 
also  to  the  editors  of  various  newspapers  in  Maryland  and  Virginia, 
as  well  as  in  Pennsylvania,  who  have  taken  the  pains  to  give  both  sides 
of  the  story.  I  trust  that  not  only  they,  but  all  who  have  published 
accounts  of  the  trial,  will  copy  this  statement. 

John  M'Clintock. 

Caelisle,  Septemler  25, 1847. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


183 


CHAPTER  V. 


:847,  1848. 


Calm  after  the  Storm— Increase  in  the  Number  of  College  Students — Generosity  of  Dr. 
M'Clintock's  Friends— Illness  of  President  Emory,  and  his  Departure  for  the  West  Indies 
—  Illness  of  Professor  Caldwell  —  Correspondence  of  Dr.  M'Cliiitock  with  his  two  Sick 
Associates— Letter  from  one  Diving  Man  to  Another— Death  of  President  Emorj'  and  of 
Professor  Caldwell — Professor  M'Clintock's  Eesignation  of  his  Professorship — His  Growth 
during  the  Twelve  Tears — His  Life  in  Carlisle  considered  as  a  Preparation  for  his  Subse- 
quent Career. 


HE  alternations  of  trial  in  this  period  of  Professor 


M'Clintock's  life  followed  each  other  in  quick  suc- 
cession, and  from  the  character  of  his  temperament  affect- 
ed him  very  deeply.  His  sensibility  to  all  impressions 
gave  keenness  both  to  his  sorrow  and  his  joy.  His  elas- 
tic spirit,  however,  carried  him  onward  victoriously,  and 
enabled  him  (the  causes  of  disturbance  once  past)  to 
resume  with  vigor  the  many  undertakings  with  which 
his  hands  were  filled.  The  college  opened  for  the  fall 
term  of  1847  the  next  month  after  the  riot  trial,  and  to 
his  great  delight  students  flocked  to  it  in  larger  num- 
bers than  ever  before.  Some  of  its  friends  had  expressed 
gloomy  forebodings  of  the  future  ;  but  the  event  proved 
that  there  was  no  occasion  for  fear.  In  November  he 
writes  to  his  associate,  President  Emory,  who  had  gone 
to  the  West  Indies  for  the  restoration  of  his  shattered 
health  :— 

I  am  able  to  attend  to  all  my  college  duties,  and  to  get  on  a  little 
with  the  "  First  Book  in  Greek."  If  the  college  did  not  require  one 
to  spend  time  in  hearing  recitations,  or  attending  to  students,  I 
should  think  a  professor's  place  one  of  the  pleasantest  in  the  world ; 


1 84  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

as  it  is,  I  feel  myself  happy  at  my  work,  but  more  happy  in  the  pros- 
pect of  being  in  freer  circumstances  next  year.  *' Neander "  is 
printed,  preface  and  all,  but  the  Messrs.  Harper  do  not  think  it  best 
to  publish  until  February,  so  as  to  have  the  book  fresh  for  the  spring- 
trade,  and  I  suppose  they  are  right.  And  as  you  take  almost  as 
much  interest  in  my  affairs  as  in  your  own,  it  may  gratify  you  to 
learn  that  several  friends,  as  large-handed  as  yourself,  have  sent  me 
aid  toward  the  expense  of  the  riot  case — the  whole  amounting  to 
about  five  hundred  dollars.  Did  ever  any  body  have  such  friends  ? 
But  do  you  know  (I  shall  feel  better  to  let  it  out)  that  I  have  had 
more  strange  and  bad  feelings  about  the  kindness  of  my  friends,  than 
about  all  the  malice  of  foes.  The  weight  of  obligation  crushes  me, 
and  I  feel  as  if  I  must  rid  myself  of  it  somehow.  This  is  pride, 
doubtless,  but  I  hope  something  better  is  mixed  up  with  it. 

If  I  have  traced  successfully  the  outh'nes  of  this  life,  so 
as  to  make  of  it  a  well-defined  picture,  I  have  shown  in 
what  close  bonds  of  friendship  the  members  of  the  Fac- 
ulty of  Dickinson  College  lived  together.  They  were 
large-minded  men,  who  fully  trusted  one  another,  and 
never  found  their  trust  betrayed.  Dr.  Durbin,  the  first 
president,  who  left  in  1845  enter  upon  the  pastorate, 
and  then  upon  his  great  work  as  missionary  secretary, 
wrote,  in  1850,  to  one  of  his  old  associates:  My  visit  to 
Carlisle  awoke  in  me  the  beautiful  and  anxious  memories 
of  the  days  that  may  never  return.  I  remember  them 
with  pleasure  and  pain.  They  were  the  days  of  my  manly 
friendships  —  peace  —  peace  !  Ah  well,  they  may  be  re- 
newed hereafter."  The  little  circle  was  now  about  to  be 
broken,  and  its  members  scattered.  President  Emory 
had,  Avhile  travelling,  in  1847,  been  taken  with  bleeding 
of  the  lungs,  and  had  been  ordered  to  a  warnier  climate. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


185 


Professor  Caldwell,  the  senior  of  the  Faculty,  whose 
health  had  been  precarious  for  several  years,  had  gone  to 
his  home  in  Portland,  Maine,  to  end  his  days.  The  pros- 
pect of  losing  these  friends  made  the  continuance  in  his 
post  painful  for  Professor  M'Clintock  to  contemplate. 
He  believed,  too,  that  his  office  imposed  restraints  upon 
the  full  expression  of  his  opinions  which  he  was  not 
willing  to  bear.  He  had  been  admirably  sustained  by 
the  college  authorities  and  the  southern  students,  but 
he  knew  perfectly  well  how  incurable  were  the  prejudices 
created  by  the  angry  debate  between  the  North  and  the 
South.  Invitations  came  to  him  to  take  the  presidency 
of  Genesee  Seminary,  of  Alleghany  College,  a  professor- 
ship in  the  Wesleyan  University,  and  from  some  of  his 
friends,  the  editorship  of  the  Methodist  Quarterly  Re- 
view. The  college  proposals  he  declined,  and  with  re- 
gard to  the  last  he  determined  to  wait  the  course  of 
events. 

The  entries  in  his  diary  from  this  date  are  few  and 
very  brief.  As  his  cares  multiplied,  and  his  correspond- 
ence grew  in  volume,  there  was  little  time  or  strength 
left  for  an  exact  summary  of  each  day's  proceedings. 
Such  passages  as  the  following  tell  their  own  story : — 

Sunday,  Nov.  2 1 .  Cldss-meeting  at  half-past  eight.  Took  bad  cold 
at  's  funeral  on  Friday,  and  suffer  much  from  it  to-day.  Got  let- 
ter from  last  night,  which  afflicted  me  deeply.  The  iron  is  be- 
ginning to  enter  my  heart.  One  wave  of  sorrow  after  another  has 
rolled  over  me  for  the  last  ten  years.  My  head  is  becoming  gray. 
Yet  I  have  many  blessings,  Latts  Deo !  Did  not  go  to  church  to- 
day, feeling  too  unwell. 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


Tuesday,  Nov.  29.  Sat  up  last  night  till  two  o'clock  studying  and 
comparing  Greek  and  Latin  accents.  Read  "  Bion.,  Sext.  Empir,," 
"  Herodotus,"  etc.  Got  clearer  views  than  usual.  Letter  to  Nadal 
from  J.  P.  D.  with  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  dollars,  on  account 
of  riot !    Really  my  friends  overpower  me. 

If,  however,  his  diary  is  meagre,  his  correspondence 
with  his  two  sick  associates  and  other  friends  contains  a 
full  history  of  this  last  and  eventful  year  of  his  college 
life :— 

To  President  Emory. 

Kovemhcr  26,  1847. 

I  have  to-day  received  a  letter,  asking  me  if  I  were  willing  to  take 
the  presidency  of  Alleghany  College.  Aint  I  rising?  Lima,  New- 
ark, Alleghany,  all  in  a  row  !  I  think  you  will  agree  with  me  in 
saying  that  no  man  who  wants  to  study  hard  should  undertake  the 
presidency  of  a  college.  I  continue  to  receive  kind  offers  from  Mid- 
dletown,  on  condition  that  I  leave  here  next  year ;  but,  of  course,  I 
have  no  views  in  that  quarter. 

The  signs  of  the  times  indicate  that  the  Church  property  will  not 
be  divided.  The  plan  most  in  favor  now  is  to  give  the  Church 
South,  zn  perpetuo,  the  right  to  purchase  books  at  cost — not  cost  of 
stereotype  plates,  buildings,  etc.,  included,  for  these  were  laid  in 
part  with  their  own  money  —  but  simple  cost  of  work,  wages,  etc. 
On  the  whole,  I  don't  know  but  this  plan  would  give  them  their  own 
pretty  effectually ;  and  if  it  would,  it  would  save  great  difficulty  in 
division,  and  great  waste,  too.  I  am  glad  to  say  that  Griffith  is  com- 
ing round  to  our  view  of  giving  the  South  its  share — indeed,  he  ex- 
pressed himself  the  other  day  pretty  effectually  about  it.  If  he  had 
done  this  sooner,  and  had  pledged  Bond  to  it,  the  whole  Church 
would  have  been  ready  for  it  by  this  time. 

Jnnunrxj  1,  1S48. 

Abel  Stevens's  plan  to  give  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South,  books  at  cost  price,  (not  including  the  cost  of  stereotype 
plates,  etc.,)  seems  to  be  becoming  more  popular  than  any  other  at 
the  North.    But  at  the  South  it  is  utterly  distasteful.    I  can  hardly 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


187 


see  how  a  lawsuit  can  be  avoided  about  this  wretched  property, 
and  am  often  tempted  to  wish  it  all  burned  up.  The  Church  conr 
troversy  makes  less  stir  than  it  did  ;  but  that  is  because  men's  minds 
are  made  up  to  break  the  plan  of  separation  to  pieces  next  May,  and 
begin  our  missionary  work  South  as  well  as  North.  No  other  prop- 
osition to  pay  the  money  but  Stevens's  will  be  likely  to  carry  at  the 
next  General  Conference. 

January  23,  1S4S. 

Your  letters  are  provokingly  abstemious  of  all  statements  in  regard 
to  your  health.  We  gather  partly  that  you  are  improving,  and  partly 
that  you  are  not.  Do  be  more  explicit — especially  if  you  have  good 
news  to  communicate.  I  told  you  in  my  last — and  will  now  repeat 
again  for  fear  you  should  not  get  it — that  Mr.  Griffith  and  others  of 
the  Board  think  that  the  way  will  be  clear  for  me  to  take  the  presi- 
dency of  the  college  next  July.  But  I  feel  an  almost  invincible  re- 
pugnance to  undertaking  the  responsibility — especially  under  the 
unfavorable  auspices  under  which  I  must  necessarily  do  it.  It  has 
been  suggested  that  Dr.  Olin  should  take  the  missionary'  secretary- 
ship, and  I  take  his  place  at  Middletown ;  that  would  be  (for  ;//<?)  out 
of  the  frying-pan  into  the  fire. 

Januarij  31,  1S4S. 

I  have  no  idea  that  my  friends  in  New  Jersey  will  send  me  to 
Pittsburgh.  All  that  I  can  do  will  doubtless  have  to  be  done  by 
lobbying  and  by  stuffing  some  of  the  real  live  delegates.  There  are 
a  few  points  on  which  I  feel  great  interest,  and  on  those  I  have  al- 
ready succeeded  in  indoctrinating  certain  strong  men.  Old  friend 
Griffith  will  go  to  the  death,  I  think,  for  an  equitable  division  of  the 
Church  property.  He  says  it's  a  great  piece  of  business  for  the 
blubbering  brethren  who  voted  the  plan  of  division  with  tears  in 
their  eyes  to  come  out  now  to  undo  their  own  act  by  repudiation. 
So  far  as  he  can,  he  will  hold  them  to  their  bargain  —  a  bargain 
which  he  had  no  hand  in  making,  and  always  thought  wrong  and 
foolish,  but  which  cannot  be  broken  salva  fide.  I  trust  the  northern 
brethren  will  yet  see  this  question  in  the  same  light  as  we  do  here. 


i88 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


and  let  us  rid  ourselves  of  this  miserable  money  fight  in  a  way 
worthy  of  honorable  and  Christian  men. 

April  21,  1548 

I  received  eighteen  votes  in  Jersey  for  General  Conference.  Don't 
you  think  I  ought  to  go  and  take  a  seat  on  the  strength  of  it  ?  My 
future  movements  are  quite  uncertain.  There  is  little  probability  of 
the  General  Conference  electing  me  to  the  Quarterly  Reinew — in- 
deed, I  don't  see  the  slightest  chance  of  it.  They  still  propose  the 
presidency  of  the  college  to  me,  but  I  have  little  idea  of  being  Jack- 
at-a-pinch  in  that  way. 

To  Professor  Caldwell. 

May  S,  1543. 

It  may  be  that  you  take  too  strong  a  view  of  your  case  ;  but  if  you 
do  not,  and  the  end  of  your  labors  is  really  at  hand,  I  do  not  know 
that  any  consolation  to  us  could  be  so  great  as  the  calm  and  steady 
confidence  which  your  letter  evinces.  You  may  leave  a  little  sooner 
than  the  rest  of  us  ;  it  wont  be  long.  Life  is  precious  for  its  uses — 
when  these  are  gained,  the  change  of  one  mode  of  existence  for  an- 
other, and  a  better,  is  not  a  thing  to  be  deplored.  Such,  I  think, 
were  my  own  feelings  during  my  severe  illness,  when,  doubtless,  I 
was  much  better  prepared  for  such  a  change  than  I  now  am. 
With  calm  reliance  upon  the  great  Author  of  life  through  our  Re- 
deemer, such  as  you  enjoy,  death  will  have  no  sharp  sting ;  the 
grave  will  have  no  victory  to  boast  of.  So,  my  brother,  if  you 
must  go  before  us,  we  shall  not  grieve  for  yon,  but  for  ourselves — ■ 
and  that,  too,  but  briefly,  for  our  little  history  here  will  also  soon  be 
wound  up.    May  we  all  meet  in  a  better  land  ! 

We  have  letters  from  Emor}-,  from  Charleston.  There  is  no  im- 
provement in  his  health,  and  he  does  not  look  for  any  improvement 
hereafter.  His  health  is  failing  regularly,  and  he  will  probably  come 
up  to  Baltimore  in  a  few  weeks,  though  his  movements  in  that  re- 
spect are  not  fully  decided  upon.  He  writes  in  great  peace  of  mind 
and  religious  confidence,  with  no  idea  of  prolonged  life  in  this  world. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


May  18,  1848. 

I  returned  on  Tuesday  from  Baltimore,  where  I  had  been  to  see 
Emory.  I  conversed  with  him  in  regard  to  his  religious  prospects  as 
fully  as  his  feeble  condition  would  allow,  and  found  his  mind  calmly 
and  firmly  stayed  on  Christ  his  Redeemer.  His  peace  of  soul,  he 
told  me,  surprised  even  hirhself.  No  fear,  no  uncertainty,  no  hesita- 
tion even ;  but  a  fixed  and  steadfast  confidence  of  acceptance  in 
Christ  Jesus.  Of  course  I  expected  nothing  else,  but  yet  it  was  grat- 
ifying to  receive  such  comforting  testimonies  from  his  own  lips. 

In  spite  of  the  contents  of  your  letter,  1  cannot  but  cherish  a  hope 
that  your  disease  may  not  have  gone  so  far  as  you  suspect.  And 
yet  I  am  not  sure  that  it  is  right  to  cherish  such  hopes.  For  oui 
friends,  as  well  as  for  ourselves,  it  is  doubtless  better  for  us  to  say, 
"Thy  will,  O  Lord,  be  done."  He  knows  what  is  best  for  us,  far 
better  than  we  can.  With  Christ,  "who  is  our  life,"  within  our 
hearts,  it  cannot  be  hard  to  die.  Death  is  not  death  for  such.  I 
preached  on  Sunday  week  from  the  words,  "  Because  I  live,  ye  shall 
live  also  " — the  Redeemer's  life  the  pledge  and  surety  of  his  chil- 
dren's. In  the  spirit  of  that  text  there  is  no  death.  All  is  life  in 
Christ.  "The  first  Adam,"  says  Paul,  "was  made  a  viial  being, 
the  second  Adam  is  a  life-creating  spirit."  As  sons  of  the  life- 
giver,  our  lives  cannot  fail.  A  change,  to  be  sure,  there  is  in  our 
mode  of  existence  ;  and  what  we  call  death  is  the  transition-point  of 
that  change  ;  but  it  is  no  dissolution,  thank  God  ! 

It  is  blessed,  indeed,  for  us  to  learn  from  your  letters  how  perfect 
your  confidence  is.  May  your  peace  abound  yet  more  and  more, 
and  the  very  God  of  peace  sanctify  you  wholly  in  soul,  body,  and 
spirit ! 

May  27,  1848. 

I  have  been  occupied  day  and  night  in  preparing  Emory's  funeral 
sermon,  which  I  preached  this  morning  in  the  church.  I  trust  that 
the  Holy  Spirit  was  with  us,  and  that  the  contemplation  of  our  dear 
departed  friend's  lofty  character  may  have  stimulated  many  to  strive 
to  follow  him  as  he  followed  Christ.  The  text  was  2  Tim.  i,  7  :  sub- 
ject, the  Spirit  of  Christianity  a  spirit  of — I.  Energy,  not  "  fear," 


IQO  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

hut/>07ver;  IL  Softened  and  animated  by /^^d/ ;  II L  Guided  by  ^^-/z- 
lightencd  intellect — "  a  sound  mind."  These  heads  afforded  tolera- 
ble means  of  unfolding  the  life  and  character  of  our  beloved  presi- 
dent, who,  I  think,  lived  a  breathing  commentary  upon  the  passage, 
and  a  constant  illustration  of  the  spirit  of  Christianity. 

That  our  hearts  are  subdued  within  us  under  the  dealings  of  God 
you  may  well  imagine.  Emory's  death,  and  your  illness,  no  favora- 
ble termination  of  which  can  be  hoped  for,  according  to  your  state- 
ments, must,  indeed,  w^eigh  heavily  upon  us.  It  is  hard  for  us  even 
to  conceive  why  our  feather  should  take  away  those  who  seem  fitted 
to  be  his  best  and  most  available  instruments  in  the  very  bloom  of 
their  usefulness,  and  when  their  labors  seem  to  be  most  of  all  needed. 
Yet  he  is  our  Father  still.  What  better  can  we  do  than  to  say,  "  It  is 
the  Lord  ;  let  him  do  as  seemeth  him  good."  As  he  told  his  weep- 
ing disciples  shortly  before  his  own  death,  "  What  I  do  ye  know 
not  now,  but  ye  shall  know  hereafter,"  so  let  us  hope  that  in  that 
better  world  we  shall  see  light  in  his  light,  even  upon  these,  the  very 
darkest  of  his  dealings  with  us. 

The  feeling  of  the  students  is  most  profound,  and  the  results  of 
Emor)''s  death  to  them,  as  of  his  life,  cannot  but  be  salutary.  The 
town,  too,  has  shown  much  more  sympathy  and  feeling  than  I  had 
deemed  it  capable  of. 

It  may  be  thought  that  it  was  a  melancholy  task  to 
carry  on  a  correspondence  with  two  dying  men — one  of 
them  in  the  extreme  north  of  the  United  States,  and  the 
other  in  the  West  Indies.  But  to  these  three  friends  the 
Christian  religion  was  the  most  real  of  all  realities.  They 
had  staked  their  lives  upon  its  promises,  had  shaped 
their  conduct  by  its  precepts,  and  had  drawn  largely 
from  its  consolations.  Wholly  free  from  cant,  or  pre- 
tence of  any  kind,  they  contemplated  the  separation 
which  was  clearly  inevitable  with  an  affectionate  interest 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  I9I 

in  each  other,  but  with,  at  the  same  time,  a  perfect  trust 
in  God.  Professor  Caldwell,  in  whom  quiet  heroism  was 
a  conspicuous  trait  of  character,  a  few  days  before  his 
own  decease  dictated  the  following  letter  to  President 
Emory : — 

PoETLAND,  May  — ,  1848. 
From  the  last  I  heard  from  you  I  suppose  we  may  be  about  equally 
near  the  boundary  that  separates  the  two  worlds ;  and  being  able 
(though  barely  able)  to  wTite  a  line,  I  avail  myself  of  the  Providence 
which  it  thus  grants  of  giving  you  one  more  expression  of  my  affec- 
tion, and  of  testifying  the  unspeakable  goodness  of  God  in  sustaining 
me  thus  far  through  a  sickness  of  great  suffering  and  physical  de- 
pression. So  marked  has  been  God's  favor  to  me  through  Jesus 
Christ,  that  I  have  been  enabled  from  the  first  to  feel  that  all  is  for 
the  best ;  and  now,  that  I  draw  near  to  the  final  issue,  that  even 
death  is  gain. 

I  doubt  not  God  is  equally  present  with  you.  May  he  sustain  us 
to  the  end  !  Give  my  love  to  your  family  friends,  who  I  am  happy  to 
learn  are  with  you.  So  soon  to  meet,  I  will  not  say  farewell.  God 
be  with  us  both  till  we  reach  our  better  home  in  heaven. 

A  letter  from  one  dying  man  to  another  is  something 
unusual,  but  one  such  as  this  is  rare  indeed  in  litera- 
ture. The  tolling  bell  which  summoned  the  students 
and  people  of  the  borough  to  pay  their  last  tribute  of 
respect  to  the  memory  of  the  deceased  president,  sound- 
ed soon  again  to  announce  the  death  of  the  senior  pro- 
fessor. Professor  M'Clintock  felt  from  this  time  that  his 
life  in  Carlisle,  which  had  been  so  congenial  in  its  com- 
panionships, so  rich  in  the  fruits  of  his  own  growth,  and 
so  abounding  in  happiness,  was  torn  up  by  the  roots.  It 
was  impossible  for  him  to  remain  where  the  painful 
memory  of  so  many  broken  ties  pressed  upon  him.  He 


192 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


needed  relief,  and  sought  it  in  a  new  sphere,  new  activi- 
ties, and  new  relations  with  his  fellow-men. 

To  Dr.  Olin, 

May  2T,  1S4S. 

Let  me  say  how  deeply  penetrated  we  all  are  with  the  spontane- 
ous offering  of  your  Faculty  in  the  resolutions  sent  to  us,  and  read 
in  faculty-meeting  on  Friday.  As  no  usage  demanded  such  an  ut- 
terance, it  is  the  more  grateful  to  us  all.  The  resolutions  have  been 
communicated  to  the  family,  to  whom  also  I  took  the  liberty  of  read- 
ing your  letter.    It  soothed  and  softened  their  hearts. 

Your  estimate  of  my  dear  friend  is  a  very  just  one  indeed.  On  one 
point  you  need  correction:  he  not  only  found  you  "congenial,"  but 
admired  and  loved  you  fervently ;  indeed,  I  am  sure  that  I  have 
never  known  him  speak  in  terms  of  higher  esteem  or  warmer  affec- 
tion for  any  man  than  for  yourself.  Count  him,  then,  among  the 
loving  friends  that  you  are  to  meet  in  heaven.  O  praclaruui  diem, 
quum  ad  illiid  divi7ium  animorum  concilium  ccetumque  projicis- 
camur  ! 

You  will  hardly  think  that  I  exaggerate  when  I  assure  you  that 
Robert  was  the  best  and  purest  man  that  I  have  ever  known.  His 
aim  was  so  entirely  single  that  his  whole  life  was  clarified  by  it.  His 
religious  experience,  since  the  memorable  manifestation  of  the  Spirit 
which  he  received,  in  1835,  after  days  of  solitary  wrestling  with  God, 
has  been  always  of  the  most  satisfactory  tenor.  On  the  question  of 
his  acceptance  with  Christ,  there  has  never  been  any  doubt  or  dark- 
ness, and  so  it  continued  to  the  very  last.  I  reached  Baltimore  on 
the  day  of  his  arrival  there,  (Thursday,  May  11,)  but  he  was  so  weak 
that  I  could  not  see  him  until  Friday  morning.  On  that  day  and  the 
two  following  I  had  various  conversations  with  him,  but  all  very 
brief,  as  he  was  utterly  prostrated.  "  My  peace  is  abounding,"  said 
he  ;  "  it  has  been  great  during  all  my  sickness,  and  is  still  so  great 
and  so  unbroken  that  I  wonder  at  it  myself"  There  was  no  false 
confidence,  no  want  of  self-scrutiny,  but  he  had  Christ  in  his  heart ; 
his  life  had  been  hid  with  Christ  in  God,  and  Christ  was  with  him  in 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


his  dying  hours.  On  Wednesday  he  made  his  will,  and  afterward,  as 
if  loth  that  his  last  strength  should  be  devoted  to  worldly  matters, 
he  bore  testimony  to  all  that  were  present  of  the  love  of  God,  and  of 
his  sure  hope  in  Christ.  On  Thursday  he  was  still  more  feeble,  and 
on  Thursday  night,  at  half-past  eight,  he  quietly  went  to  sleep  in 
Jesus.    So  may  we  rest  in  Christ ! 

My  feelings  have  been,  I  fear,  almost  morbid  ;  but  I  am  more  than 
ever  determined  to  try  to  do  the  duties  which  God  may  lay  upon  me 
faithfully.  If  I  can  be  convinced,  or  can  convince  myself,  that  it  is 
my  duty  to  remain  here,  I  shall  most  assuredly  do  so.  Whatever  oth- 
ers may  think,  I  am  sure  that  I  am  not  the  right  man  for  the  office 
of  president.  I  write  to  you,  as  I  believe  you  will  know  and  admit, 
without  any  cant.  I  assure  you  that  I  am  not  disposed  to  think  too 
humbly  of  myself.  I  do  not  doubt  my  intellectual  capacity  to  fill  the 
post  creditably,  as  such  posts  are  commonly  filled  in  this  country, 
but  I  have  not  the  moral  fitness.  I  am  too  impulsive,  too  unsteady, 
to  be  taken  as  a  model  for  young  men ;  and  the  young  men  of  a  col- 
lege will  make  its  president  their  model,  if  he  is  a  man  of  any  mark 
at  all.  For  mere  position  of  any  sort  I  have  no  kind  of  ambition ; 
and  my  happiness  will  be  secured  by  the  humble  relations  of  a  station 
in  New  York  more  effectually  than  by  any  office  in  the  Church- 
Again,  my  convictions  on  the  slavery  question  unfit  me  especially 
for  this  place.  I  could  not  take  it  under  any  gag,  and  I  might  be- 
come an  incendiary  before  any  body  would  know  it.  You  see  I  can 
make  out  a  pretty  strong  case. 

One  of  Emory's  last  anxieties  was  in  regard  to  the  division  of  the 
Church  property.  I  told  him  that  I  thought  some  equitable  plan 
would  certainly  be  adopted,  and  he  thanked  God  most  fervently  for 
the  prospect.  It  looks  ill  now  for  the  realization  of  his  hopes  and 
mine ;  but  I  hope  still  for  the  best. 

In  the  warm  midsummer,  when  the  reapers  were  gath- 
ering in  the  rich  harvests  of  the  valley,  Commencement 

came,  with  its  pleasurable  excitements  and  troops  of 
13 


194  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

friends.  There  were  long  and  anxious  consultations,  for 
the  old  was  to  pass  away  and  the  new  to  begin.  The 
gaps  left  in  the  Faculty  of  instruction  by  death  and  con- 
templated removal  were  to  be  filled,  and  these  were  so 
many  as  to  mark  the  close  of  one  period  of  college  his- 
tory and  the  opening  of  another.  Universal  regret  was 
created  by  Professor  M'Clintock's  resignation,  and  every 
honor  that  his  friends  could  think  of,  as  appropriate,  was 
paid  him.  It  was  for  him,  too,  the  closing  of  a  distinct 
period  of  his  life.  He  could  look  back  over  the  twelve 
years  spent  in  Carlisle  with  unalloyed  satisfaction.  He 
had  come  thither  a  young  man,  but  little  known,  and 
with  powers  but  little  tried.  He  had  grown  as  few  men 
can  or  do  grow  in  the  same  length  of  time,  and  had  pre- 
pared himself  for  the  larger  activities  of  succeeding  years. 
He  had  secured  from  the  Church  and  the  world  the  recog- 
nition, which  is  the  strongest  incentive  to  continuous  ex- 
ertion. Hitherto  he  had  been  wholly  a  student  ;  hence- 
forth he  is  to  be  both  a  student  and  a  man  of  affairs,  and 
to  attempt  the  difficult  problem  of  harmonizing  two 
opposite  modes  of  life.  Here,  in  the  quiet  of  this  old 
borough,  he  had  set  up  his  first  home,  had  tasted  the 
first  sweetness  of  domestic  joy,  and  had  felt  the  first 
sharp  strokes  of  sorrow  in  the  death  of  children,  kin- 
dred, and  friends.  His  various  experience  had  enriched 
him  both  in  what  it  brought  and  in  what  it  took  away. 

His  subsequent  career  was  prosperous,  but  no  such 
light  rested  upon  it  as  glorified  these  twelve  eventful 
years.  Perhaps  it  must  be  so.  In  the  long  day  which 
we  call  human  life  the  sun  can  rise  but  once  ;  the  fresh- 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  I95 

ness  of  the  early  morning  can  be  but  once  ;  the  exhilarat- 
ing sense  of  power,  not  yet  wearied,  can  be  ours  but 
for  a  brief  space  ;  the  splendor  with  which  we  ourselves 
clothe  all  things  visible, 

"  The  light  that  never  was  on  sea  or  land," 

we  pour  forth  over  the  world,  and  it  soon  fades,  to  remain 
with  us  after  only  as  a  precious  memory.  The  transi- 
tion in  Professor  M'Clintock  from  the  exuberance  of  his 
earlier  manhood  to  the  sedateness  of  middle  age  was 
very  clear  to  his  own  mind,  and  very  distinctly  noticed 
by  his  friends. 

But  the  death  of  Robert  Emory  was  for  him  a  loss 
never  repaired.  He  had  counselled  with  him,  had  leaned 
on  him  for  support,  and  had  found  in  him  one  to 
whom  he  could  impart  griefs,  joys,  fears,  hopes,  sus- 
picions, and  whatsoever  lay  upon  the  heart  to  oppress  it." 
Their  correspondence,  of  which  I  have  given,  in  propor- 
tion to  its  bulk,  only  few  illustrations,  is  beautiful  in  its 
unreserve.  ^'  I  have  thought,"  writes  Professor  M'Clin- 
tock,  when  they  were  separated  in  1840,  since  your  de- 
parture, that  I  was  almost  too  hasty  in  undertaking  to 
teach  the  classics.  I  fear  my  knowledge  will  fail  me 
when  I  come  to  sit  in  the  chair  which  you  have  filled  ; 
I  fear  that  the  contrast  will  be  too  great,  and  that  I  shall 
lose  the  respect  of  the  students.  Deeply  do  I  lament 
the  irregularity  of  my  mental  action,  the  want  of  sted- 
fastness  in  my  moral  progress,  the  lack  of  fervor  and 
zeal  in  my  moral  character.  I  would  follow  after 
you,  my  brother,  my  friend,  though  I  shall  do  it  /taud 


196  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

passibus  ceqiiis!'  And  in  the  same  year  again :  My 
reproof  (of  neglect  of  correspondence)  was  a  very  gentle 
one ;  at  all  events,  I  meant  it  to  be  such,  for  I  felt  gentle 
enough,  as  I  always  do  when  writing  to  you  or  thinking 
of  you.  You  are  right  in  saying  that  no  experience 
will  ever  make  me  prudent.  I  am  satisfied  that  my  na- 
ture, almost,  must  be  altered  before  I  can  be,  either  in 
word  or  deed.  I  say  and  do  things,  every  day  of  my  life, 
for  which  I  am  sorry  when  I  lie  down  at  night  and  think 
over  the  events  of  the  day  ;  not  that  I  do  bad  things, 
but  simply  because  I  do  imprudent  things.  Is  there 
any  remedy  for  this  evil  ?  I  wish  I  could  travel  a  circuit 
with  you  for  a  year  or  two.  You  did  me  great  good 
when  you  were  here,  but,  now  that  you  are  gone,  I  fear 
I  shall  relapse  again." 

The  travelling  together  longer  was  not  to  be.  They 
had  come  to  the  parting  of  the  ways,  and  while  one 
faded  into  the  infinite  distance,  the  other  remained 
to  cherish  the  recollection  of  a  sweetness  and  purity 
which  had  blessed  so  many  years  of  his  life. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


1848-1852. 


Elected  Editor  of  the  "Methodist  Quarterly  Eeview  "— Eemoves  to  Jersey  City— Despon- 
dent about  his  Health — Discusses  with  Dr.  Olin  the  Policy  of  the  "  Eeview  " — Eeg-rets  the 
loss  of  the  Society  of  old  Friends — Enlists  the  Co-operation  of  able  Contributors— Discussion 
and  Analysis  of  Comte's  System  of  Positivism — Effort  to  make  the  "  Quarterly"  both  Schol- 
arly and  Practical — Demands  Independence  in  the  Treatment  of  Methodist  Questions — Death 
of  his  Wife — Trip  to  Europe  in  the  Summer  of  1850 — Enjo5'ment  of  the  Sea — Attentions  from 
German  University  Professors— Inclination  to  Settle  in  Europe  for  several  Years— Eeturn 
Home  in  greatly  improved  Health— Death  of  Dr.  Olin— Second  Marriage  of  Dr.  M'Clintock 
— Elected  President  of  Wesleyan  University,  but  Declines  the  Position — Preaching — Work 
npon  Church  Catechisms— Weariness  of  Editorial  Drudgery— Letters. 


HE  General  Conference,  which  met  in  1848  in  the 


city  of  Pittsburgh,  elected  Professor  M'Clintock  to 
the  editorship  of  the  "  Methodist  Quarterly  Review." 
His  predecessor,  Rev.  Dr.  George  Peck,  was  made  editor 
of  the  "  Christian  Advocate."  The  new  position  was  in 
every  way  agreeable  to  the  subject  of  our  memoir :  its 
duties  accorded  well  with  his  scholarly  tastes.  No 
time  was  lost  in  completing  the  necessary  arrangements 
for  settling  his  household,  and  by  midsummer  his  home 
was  re-established  among  his  wife's  kindred  in  Jersey 
City.  He  found,  however,  that  in  this  change  he  had 
left  blessings  as  well  as  ills  behind  him.  He  missed  the 
associations  which  had  made  his  Carlisle  life  so  delight- 
ful. The  dropping  in  for  a  half-hour's  chat,  the  ^'  linger- 
ing over  the  dying  embers  of  the  fire  "  before  saying 
good-night  to  some  wholly  trusted  friend,  were  impossi- 


198  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

ble  in  the  great  and  bustling  city.  Living,  as  he  did,  so 
entirely  in  his  affections,  he  felt  that  something  was  lost 
which  could  not  be  at  once  replaced.  In  his  correspond- 
ence he  dwells  much  on  the  old  times "  which  were 
never  to  return.  Nothing  pleased  him  better  than  to 
gather  at  his  house,  in  Jersey  City,  as  many  as  he  could 
of  his  former  associates  and  their  families.  Then  there 
would  be  days  of  merriment  and  fun,  of  joke  and  glee- 
ful reminiscence,  which  carried  him  back  to  the  years 
when  they  were  all  young  together. 

The  precarious  condition  of  his  health  helped,  perhaps, 
to  make  his  return  to  New  York  less  enjoyable  than  he 
had  hoped.  Shortly  before  leaving  Carlisle  he  was  seized 
with  a  spasm  of  pain  which  disturbed  the  action  of  the 
heart,  deprived  him  for  a  time  of  consciousness,  and  left 
him  greatly  prostrated.  It  was,  no  doubt,  brought  on  by 
overwork.  He  was  for  two  years  after  subject  to  like  at- 
tacks, which  came  upon  him  without  warning,  and  kept 
him  in  constant  apprehension  of  sudden  death.  The 
trouble  proved  to  be  only  functional,  and  was  removed  by 
judicious  treatment,  rest,  and  travel.  While  it  lasted,  he 
was  incapable  of  laborious  exertion.  Long  sitting  at  his 
desk  brought  on  a  recurrence  of  the  distressing  symptoms, 
and  compelled  him  to  lay  aside  book  and  pen.  Vigorous 
preaching  was,  under  these  circumstances,  out  of  the  ques- 
tion. Uncertain  whether  he  might  not  suddenly  lose 
his  consciousness  while  in  the  street,  he  frequently  used 
the  precaution  of  taking  a  companion  with  him  when 
going  to  his  office  in  New  York  and  returning  home 
again. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


199 


But  somehow,  whether  sick  or  well,  he  was  certain  to 
have  a  good  time.  If  he  could  not  do  all  the  work  he 
wished,  he  did  what  he  could,  and  trusted  to  the  favor 
of  Providence  for  the  rest.  He  accepted  sickness  as  a 
discipline,  and  always  said  that  he  needed  it  for  his 
good.  It  depressed  him,  as  it  depresses  every  vigorous 
man,  but  he  had  been  so  long  schooled  to  pain  that  he 
yielded  to  its  visitations  with  something  of  a  child's  sub- 
missiveness.  It  was  his  portion,  and  what  sweetness 
could  be  extracted  from  it  he  would  find.  His  letters, 
however,  will  tell  all  this  better  than  T  can : — 

New  York,  July  2G,  184S. 

If  you  could  look  in  upon  us  to-day,  either  at  200  Mulberry-street 
or  at  Jersey  City,  you  would  find  busy  folks.  At  No.  200  I  am  striv- 
ing to  get  my  drawers,  shelves,  tables,  papers,  etc.,  arranged  to  suit  me, 
so  that  my  work  may  go  on  smoothly  hereafter ;  and  in  Jersey  City, 
Mrs.  M'C,  Mrs.  Wakeman,  and  the  children  are  up  to  their  eyes  and 
ears  in  straw  and  dirt,  unpacking  beds,  kettles,  pots,  and  pans,  from  the 
various  boxes  in  which  we  stowed  them  away  in  Carlisle.  Think  of 
such  feeble  folks  as  we  are,  with  broken  hearts  and  weak  chests,  doing 
so  much  packing  and  unpacking.  If  my  circulation  was  impeded  at 
Carlisle,  it  has  had  a  pretty  good  flow  since  I  left,  as  not  a  single 
dollar  was  in  my  purse  when  I  reached  New  York, 

Of  course  we  are  among  the  best  of  friends  here — and  at  home — 
but  it  does  not  seem  like  home.  It  will  be  a  long,  long  time  before 
our  Carlisle  friends  and  Carlisle  life  will  lose  their  hold  upon  our 
affections  or  our  memory.  The  associations  formed  there,  so  close 
and  intimate,  we  cannot  have  the  like  of  again — the  circumstances 
that  allowed  us  to  form  them  cannot  come  again.  So  much  of  our 
life  has  gone  —  may  we  renew  those  happy  affections  in  a  better 
world  ! 

We  are  glad  to  hear  that  you  have  gone  into  your  house — you  will 


200 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


surely  be  more  comfortable  in  every  respect.  How  pleasantly  we 
could  spend  our  vacation  with  you,  if  we  were  there.  But  I  talk  of 
vacations  as  if  I  had  any  part  in  them — but  that  is  all  gone.  You 
must  not  think  us  dissatisfied  in  any  sense  with  our  new  position  ; 
but  we  cannot  easily  forget  the  old  one,  and  the  old  friends  that  ever 
clustered  around  us  there.  And  we  are  glad  that  it  is  so.  Long  as 
we  live,  will  we  love  our  Carlisle  home  and  friends,  and  you  especial- 
ly, whom  for  so  many  years  we  have  had  in  such  close  intimacy.  If 
it  were  possible,  how  glad  we  should  be  to  have  you  near  us,  and 
enjoy  your  fellowship  again. 

August  10,  184S. 

I  go  over  to  the  Book  Room  every  day,  and  do  up  all  the  business 
that  is  to  be  done.  I  have  not  attempted  to  write  much — that  is, 
any  thing  that  requires  labor  and  thought ;  nor  shall  I  for  several 
weeks  to  come.  The  business  of  the  office,  with  the  arrangement  of 
the  library,  directing  carpenters,  workmen,  etc.,  is  about  all  I  do, 
and  it  is  just  the  kind  of  work  for  me  now.  The  children  are  hearty, 
but,  hke  their  parents,  they  miss  Carlisle,  and  would  like  to  go  back. 

To  Doctor  Olin. 

New  York,  October^  1848. 

Whether  I  have  actual  organic  disease  of  the  heart  I  know  not. 
The  first  attack  was  on  Commencement  Day,  July  13,  and  if  it  were 
purely  nervous  I  should  think  it  ought  to  have  vanished  by  this  time  : 
but  instead  of  that,  I  have  more  or  less  of  it  every  day.  When  I  re- 
frain absolutely  from  study  and  writing,  I  get  on  quite  well ;  but  after 
hard  reading,  thinking,  talking,  or  writing  a  few  pages,  all  is  undone 
again.  I  aim  to  do  as  little  as  I  possibly  can,  but  even  that  effort 
tries  me,  where  so  much  work  is  staring  me  in  the  face.  I  don't 
know  that  I  can  give  any  more  information  about  my  ailments,  and 
will  therefore  drop  'em — at  least  from  my  letter. 

I  take  to  the  full  all  your  exhortation  :  and  have  my  head  and  heart 
full  of  things  to  say  to  the  preachers  and  the  Church  on  the  subject 
of  culture.    But  in  my  present  health  (there  it  is  again  ! )  I  dare  not 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


20I 


write.  Cannot  you  give  me  something  on  the  subject  ?  Even  a  few 
pages  at  a  time  You  can  rouse  thousands  with  your  trumpet  tones. 
Will  you  do  it  ?  My  "  abjClration  of  conser\'atism  "  is  precisely  ex- 
pressed in  one  sentence  of  your  own  letter — "  /^e  error  of  such  con- 
servatives consists  in  their  attempts  to  stay  and  reverse,  instead  of 
accelerating,  progress."  I  mean,  and  hope,  to  be  a  conservative  of 
the  forward  kind  ;  not  falling  into  any  extravagance,  or  ism,  if  I  can 
keep  out,  by  the  grace  of  God,  but  striving  to  get  the  Church  at  its 
work  of  growth  within  and  without.  The  "naughtiness  of  slave- 
holders "  I  shall  not  meddle  with  until  I  see  good  reason  to  ;  much 
rather  the  naughtiness  of  impoverishing  our  itinerancy  by  admitting 
boys  who  can  hardly  read  and  making  preachers  of  them ;  the 
naughtiness  of  baptizing  infants  and  then  treating  them  as  if  they 
were  heathen,  until  the  breath  of  a  revival  comes  over  to  convert 
them,  instead  of  holding  them  as  initiated  into  the  Church,  as  our 
standards  do,  and  training  them  up  for  her  service  and  God's.  Only 
help  me  in  all  this  and  I  will  mend  your  quotation :  "  Olin  inemi- 
nisse  juvabit." 

On  the  matter  of  the  relation  of  baptized  infants  to  the  Church,  my 
mind  and  heart  are  constantly  at  work.  I  think  I  have  written  or 
spoken  to  you  before  about  it,  and  that  you  agree  with  me  in  whole 
or  in  part ;  but  I  should  like  to  hear  from  you  more  definitely.  I 
have  just  received  Bushnell's  "  Christian  Nurture,"  and  really  I  must 
go  great  part  of  the  way  with  him.    Have  you  read  the  book  ? 

To  his  Carlisle  Friends. 

October,  1848. 

I  have  just  read  a  new  book,  with  a  taking  title,  "  The  Conquerors 
of  the  New  World  and  their  Bondsmen,"  which  would  interest  you  I 
think.  It  treats  of  the  discovery  and  first  settlement  of  the  West 
Indies,  and  tells  how  the  white  people  abused  the  brown  people,  who 
faded  away  before  them  like  a  mist,  and  how  the  black  people  were 
brought  in  to  fill  the  gap  and  toil  in  chains  and  bondage.  The  ro- 
mance of  that  strange  histor)'  is  ever  new,  told  by  whom  it  may  be — 
Irving,  Prescott,  or  a  nameless  nobody,  it  is  still  the  most  attractive 


202 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


of  all  histories,  unless,  indeed,  perhaps  the  more  wondrous  romance 
of  Napoleon  and  his  bondsmen,  which  Mrs.  M'Clintock  finds  ever 
new  and  ever  delightful.  She  is  even  now  reading  a  most  charming 
little  book,  the  "  Autobiography  of  Heinrich  Steffens,"  a  professor  in 
the  University  of  Halle,  a  most  genial  man  of  letters  and  philosophy, 
who  was  driven  from  his  books  by  the  thunder  of  Bonaparte's  cannon 
after  the  battles  of  Jena  and  Auerstadt ;  and  who  afterward  followed 
the  Prussian  army  in  its  pursuit  of  the  retreating  French  in  1814  even 
up  to  the  walls  of  Paris.  It  is  a  most  graphic  set  of  pictures — and  I 
wish  you  could  see  them  ;  but  the  book  is  not  published  in  this  coun- 
try and  I  only  stole  this  copy  from  Harpers'.  It  has  to  be  returned. 
My,  but  isn't  my  letter  getting  bookish!  If  I  were  to  tell  you  all  the 
books  I  have  gutted  (excuse  the  word,  but  there  is  no  other  in  the 
language  for  it)  this  week,  I  should  have  to  take  two  or  three  sheets 
instead  of  one.  I  wish,  most  heartily,  that  I  could  run  in  and  have  a 
talk,  but  those  pleasant  days  are  over.  Let  us  strive  to  do  the  duties 
of  life  as  well  as  to  enjoy  its  fleet  pleasures  ;  that  so,  through  Christ, 
our  merciful  Redeemer,  we  may  enter  the  world  of  perpetual  pleasure 
hereafter. 

Decemher  8,  1S48. 

My  health  is  better  this  week  than  for  several  weeks  past.  The 
pain  in  my  heart  returns  more  seldom,  and  is  less  violent  when  it 
does  come,  and  altogether  I  feel  more  confidence  in  my  chest  than  I 
have  lately  done.  But  the  buoyant,  youthful — even  extravagant — 
spirit  of  lite  which  I  used  to  enjoy,  seems  gone  forever.  Life  ap- 
pears sombre  to  me,  even  in  my  most  cheerful  hours.  Not  that  I  am 
gloomy  or  lowspirited  at  all— I  don't  think  that  feeling  has  had  pos- 
session of  me  for  many  hours  in  years  past — but  the  bright  light  that 
used  to  stream  over  every  object  seems  fading  more  and  more.  My 
heart  clings  to  my  friends  (those  who  are  left)  more  closely  than  ever, 
and  it  seems  almost  a  sin  not  to  be  seeing  them,  or  thinking  about 
them,  or  writing  to  them,  all  the  time.  Did  you  ever  have  such  a 
feeling  as  that  ?  Sometimes  I  think  I  am  unlike  every  body  else— 
and  a  great  "  fool  for  my  pains."    But  after  all  it  is  best  so. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


203 


To  Doctor  Olin. 

December  3,  1848. 

Your  coming  here  will  be  a  wonderful  blessing  to  me — unless  you 
make  a  very  short  visit,  or  I  am  hindered  from  enjoying  your  society. 
At  such  times,  and  at  such  only,  do  I  regret  that  I  live  in  New  Jersey, 
and  not  in  the  city.  But  it  must  be  managed  somehow — for  I  have 
not  seen  the  face  of  a  friend  since  I  left  Carlisle — except  Floy's  for  a 
few  minutes.  It's  a  very  barren  soil  about  here.  There  is  no  one  at 
all  that  I  can  take  to,  male  or  female — and  it  is  not  a  happy  way  to 
live.  My  health,  too,  is  so  uncertain,  that  it  seems  folly  to  keep  away 
from  one's  friends.  Whether  I  am  to  be  a  grumbling,  nervous  inva- 
lid for  the  rest  of  my  days  or  not,  is  a  very  grave  question,  and  from 
present  appearances  I  fear  it  must  be  answered  in  the  affirmative.  I 
tried  to  preach  a  Sunday  or  two  ago  and  had  to  sit  down  before  I  had 
much  more  than  begun,  leaving  Bishop  Janes  to  take  up  the  dropped 
thread,  which  he  did,  I  am  told,  very  successfully — better,  doubtless, 
than  if  it  had  not  been  dropped.  But  I  won't  inflict  my  heart-beat- 
ings on  you,  as  they  are  all  physical,  and,  therefore,  should  be  borne 
as  silently  and  patiently  as  possible. 

Who  can  write  me  such  an  article  as  ought  to  be  made  on  the 
duty  of  the  Church  toward  her  baptized  children  }  Do  help  me  out 
with  this — it  makes  the  blood  run  quick  in  my  veins  to  write  the 
sentence,  I  feel  so  strongly  on  the  subject.  And  so  I  have  felt  for 
long — a  sense  of  almost  personal  guilt  about  the  children,  as  about 
missions — the  two  great  elements  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ  on  earth, 
both  of  which  we  Methodists  are  leaving  almost  untouched.  But  I 
must  not  dwell  on  these  matters,  or  I  shall  be  excited  and  hurt. 

Your  sermon  is  selling  widely  and  will  do  great  good.  I  shall  help 
to  spread  it,  and  thus  try  to  do  something  indirectly.  I  fear  that  my 
preaching  days  are  over — indeed,  they  never  were  to  any  great  ex- 
tent. 

To  his  Carlisle  Friends. 

July  3,  1849. 

How  uncertam  every  thing  in  this  life  appears  to  me  of  late.  Even 
the  very  houses  and  trees  appear  unsubstantial  and  treacherous  to 


204 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


me — stars,  sun,  moon,  sky — all  appear  so  transitor)^  What  a  con- 
trast between  these  feelings  and  those  of  earlier  life,  when  I  had  con- 
fidence in  every  thing — a  buoyant  spirit  within,  and  all  things  bright 
without !  The  "  buoyant  spirit  within,"  I  suppose,  makes  the  chief 
difference — and  that,  I  fear,  is  gone  from  me  forever — at  least  for 
this  life.  But  if  we  ever  reach  heaven,  I  judge  there  will  be  nothing 
to  repress  or  chill  the  heart — nothing  to  give  this  dreary  sense  of  un- 
certainty— to  overspread  the  fairest  scenery  with  darkness  as  here. 
But  I  did  not  dream  of  writing  in  this  strain  when  I  began. 

Feht-uary,  1849. 

Well,  there's  a  wonderful  difference  between  visiting  at  Carlisle, 
and  working  in  New  York.  There  it  was  nothing  but  pleasure  from 
morning  till  night — seeing  friends  whose  faces  brightened  at  one's  ap- 
proach and  whose  hearts  were  rejoiced  by  one's  presence — while  here, 
no  one  cares  who  you  are,  morning,  noon,  or  night.  But  how  foolish 
it  is  to  be  drawing  these  contrasts  ;  I'll  just  stop  it  and  tell  you  son>e 
new^s.  We  are  just  about  to  purchase  a  house  here  that  will  cost  us 
$4,500.  I  keep  up  as  happy  and  cheerful  a  spirit  as  possible,  and  at 
home,  with  my  family  and  books,  I  am  happy  indeed.  But  so  far  as 
the  happiness  of  enjoying  the  society  of  congenial  friends  goes,  I  have 
none  of  it,  and  that  far,  suffer  a  sad  drawback  upon  life. 

Mar-ch,  1849. 

It  is  Sunday  night.  You  are  sitting  in  the  parlor,  I  suppose,  (un- 
less attending  to  hospital  duties  up  stairs— I  hope  not,)  reading,  your 

mother  on  one  side  and  on  the  other  ;  the  children  near  by,  if 

they  have  not  gone  to  bed.  I  am  sitting  at  the  table,  the  grate  burn- 
ing brightly  at  my  left  hand,  and  sperm  candle  before  me,  in  that 
very  candlestick  which  you,  doubtless,  remember,  and  Mrs.  M'C.  in 
the  arm-chair,  near  the  fire,  reading  the  "  Wesleyan  Missionary 
Notices,"  wdth  strange  accounts  of  the  cannibals  of  the  foreign 
islands  eating  people  up,  fighting  with  sharks,  and  such  like  enter- 
taining amusements.  The  children  are  in  the  front  room  (my  study 
is  the  back  room,  up  stairs)  fast  asleep.    Now  there  is  a  description 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


205 


from  which  you  can  readily  figure  out  a  picture,  if  you  love  us  enough 
to  take  the  trouble,  and  I  am  sure  you  do.  Give  me  as  close  a  de- 
tail when  you  write,  and  I  will  work  up  the  painting  exactly  before 
my  mind's  eye.  I  have  thought  a  great  deal  about  you  to-day,  and 
about  old  times,  and  I  cannot  go  to  bed  without  writing  you  a  letter. 
O  how  I  wish  I  could  "  drop  in  "  and  have  a  talk  about  the  "  old 
times,"  instead  of  merely  mentioning  them  on  paper.  But  it  cannot 
be,  and  this  is  the  nearest  approach  to  it  that  can  be.  If  you  think 
as  much  of  getting  one  of  my  letters  as  I  do  of  yours,  this  poor  sub- 
stitute for  talk  will  please  you.  I  preached  last  Sunday  in  this  town 
for  thirty-five  minutes,  without  injury,  and  have  passed  the  week  in 
such  comparative  comfort  and  health  that  I  tried  the  experiment 
again  to-day  in  Thirtieth-street,  New  York.  Mrs.  M'C.  says  I  am 
getting  so  well  as  to  forget  all  my  prudence,  sit  up  till  midnight,  etc. ; 
but  I  don't  do  it  often,  and  don't  work  very  hard. 

March  15, 1849. 

That  visit  to  Carlisle  was  of  inestimable  service  to  me  ;  won't  you 
prescribe  a  dose  of  the  same  remedy  again  I  would  consent  al- 
most to  be  sick  once  a  quarter  for  the  pleasure  of  taking  the  med- 
icine. And  you,  \.OQ>—you  have  a  long  letter  promised,  of  which  I 
have  as  yet  seen  nothing.  Hard  work  has  not  kept  you  from  it — I 
hope  sickness  has  not.  You  will  be  bound,  as  soon  as  you  receive 
this,  to  dispatch  the  epistle  at  once,  and  I  shall  watch  the  mails  for 
a  proof  of  your  punctuality  and  promptitude. 

Poor  Mrs.  M'C.  has  a  headache  to-night,  and  sits  by  my  table  trying 
to  read  it  off  in  Chateaubriand's  life.  An  eventful  life,  indeed,  it 
was,  from  his  boyhood  in  the  forests  of  Brittany,  his  youth  in  the 
salons  of  Paris  and  amid  the  terrors  of  the  Revolution,  his  manhood 
in  America — Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  Pittsburgh,  Niagara,  Missis- 
sippi— his  prime  again  amid  the  wars  of  Europe,  as  author,  diplo- 
matist, poet,  novelist,  expounder  of  Christianity ;  take  it  altogether, 
his  was  a  rare  life.  Begun  before  the  death  of  Louis  XV.,  he  lived 
through  the  reign  of  Louis  XVL,  the  Revolution,  the  Republic,  the 
Consulate,  the  Empire  ;  again  Louis  XVHL,  Charles  X.,  the  Rev- 


2o6 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


olution  again,  Louis  Philippe,  and  then  died  in  the  opening  of  the 
Republic  of  1848.  You  may  imagine  what  a  flood  of  memories  the 
old  man  must  have  had  to  pour  forth  in  writing  his  autobiography 
at  seventy  ! 

I  wish  I  could  be  with  you  (now  nine  P.  i\L)  and  chat  over  all  these 
matters,  instead  of  scribbling  them  with  bad  ink,  (as  you  will  per- 
ceive ;)  but  this  is  infinitely  better  than  ?iot/ung,  is  it  not  ?  I  will 
think  so  when  your  answer  comes. 

To  Doctor  Olm. 

March,  1S49. 

Professor  Holdich  called  on  Saturday,  but,  much  to  my  regret,  I 
was  absent  at  the  time.  In  regard  to  his  successor  I  really  feel  unpre- 
pared to  advise.   is  impulsive,  I  know,  but  I  really  believe  that 

such  men,  if  under  the  control  of  the  grace  of  God,  make  the  best 
instructors  of  youth.  A  genial,  open  nature,  is  of  all  others  most 
necessar)-  for  a  teacher.  A  slow  mind  or  a  cold  heart  is  an  insuper- 
able objection. 

The  summer  of  1849  ^^"^^  spent  with  his  family  in  Ly- 
coming County,  Pennsylvania.  A  secluded  valley,  at  the 
base  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  offered  a  quiet  retreat, 
and  here,  with  fishing  and  other  forms  of  out-door  life, 
he  spent  a  delightful  season,  much  to  the  benefit  of  his 
broken  health. 

To  Doctor  Oh'n. 

Xoveviber  27,  1849. 

I  am  quite  as  tired  of  all  laudation,  in  all  places,  as  you  can  be. 
Sometimes  I  feel  tempted  to  do  nothing  but  abuse  people.  I  wonder 
if  that  would  mend  the  matter  }  Praise  is  losing  all  its  value,  if  it 
ever  had  any. 

I  am  pestered  to  death  with  volunteer  contributions  for  the  "  Re- 
view." Men  who  have  just  learned  the  Greek  alphabet  send  me 
critical  and  exegetical  remarks  on  passages  of  Scripture.  Others 
give  original  sketches  in  Church  histor}',  made  out  of  Mosheim  and 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


207 


Dr.  Ruter.  Others  discuss  final  perseverance  in  series  of  elegant  ex- 
tracts from  "  Watson's  Institutes  "  and  "  Fletcher's  Checks."  Others 
give  me  copious  analyses  of  good  Bishop  Asbury's  journal.  Others 
send  in  Dr.  Clarke's  ideas  on  disputed  Scriptures— whereof  Dr. 
Clarke  knew  nothing.  Is  it  not  delightful  ?  Such  zealous,  pains- 
taking, thorough,  scholarly  work,  going  on  in  so  many  different 
quarters  at  once  !    Hope  for  the  world. 

To  his  Carlisle  Friends. 

February  11,  1S50. 

Your  letters  were  such  little  scrimpy  things  to  what  they  used  to 
was,  that  I  thought  they  were  only  a  kind  of  prefaces  to  letters  to 
follow  by  the  next  mail  or  so,  like  the  little  balloons  that  aeronauts 
send  up  before  the  big  one  is  inflated  fully,  and  let  off  to  be  gazed 
at.  But,  as  it  seems  yours  were  the  real  balloons  after  all,  I  sup- 
pose I  was  all  wrong  in  not  gazing  at  them,  and  writing  at  once,  just 
as  if  they  had  been  ever  so  big.  But  you  don  t  dream  of  any  want 
of  lorve,  whatever  want  of  letters  there  may  be  in  me.  The  truth  is 
I  am  sadly  overworked.  For  weeks  I  have  not  got  to  bed  till  twelve 
or  one  o'clock  at  night,  and  at  hard  work  all  day  besides.  It  is  now 
approaching  eleven  as  I  begin  this  letter,  and  divers  others  are  wait- 
ing their  turn  before  I  go  to  bed.  It  seems  to  me  I  must  be  one  of 
those  wicked  ones  for  whom  there  is  no  rest ;  and  yet  I  try  to  be 
busy  only  at  good  things  all  the  time. 

The  Methodist  Quarterly  Review  "  is  the  oldest  of 
the  periodicals  of  the  Church  whose  name  it  bears  which 
have  had  a  permanent  life.  Originally  established  in 
1818  as  a  monthly  magazine,  it  was,  like  its  model,  Mr. 
Wesley's  "  Arminian  Magazine,"  devoted  largely  to 
topics  which  are  now  usually  treated  in  the  weekly  re- 
ligious newspaper.  It  was  to  some  extent  superseded 
by  the  appearance  of  "  The  Christian  Advocate "  in 
1826.    In  1829  it  was  suspended,  but  in  1830  was  re- 


208 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


issued  in  Quarterly  form  by  Dr.  John  Emory,  then 
senior  Book  Agent.  Dr.  Emory  also  edited  the  Re- 
view "  until  his  election  to  the  Episcopate  in  1832,  and 
contributed,  with  his  own  pen,  the  principal  original  ar- 
ticles. Professor  M'Clintock  aimed  to  enrich  the  "  Quar- 
terly" by  enlisting  in  its  service  the  very  best  writers  of 
the  time,  as  well  without  as  within  the  ranks  of  Amer- 
ican Methodism.  He  sought  out  the  men  whom  he 
wanted,  and  urged  them  to  their  best  exertions.  As  a 
result  he  was  able  to  spread  before  the  readers  of  the 
"  Quarterly,"  during  his  administration.  Dr.  Stevens's 
brilliant  essays  on  Channing  and  Lamartine,  Dr.  Olin's 
exposition  of  the  Religious  Training  of  the  Young,  and  his 
eloquent  appeal  to  the  Young  Men  of  the  Church.  The 
elder  Dr.  Bond  contributed  an  article  on  the  Methodist 
Church,  South,  the  closing  passage  of  which  is,  perhaps, 
the  most  powerful  arraignment  of  Methodist  complicity 
with  slaver}^  ever  written.  Dr.  Schaff  furnished  essays 
on  early  Christianity,  afterward  incorporated  into  his 
Church  History;  Dr.  Jacobi,  of  Berlin,  an  Analysis  of  the 
newly-discovered  Writings  of  Hippolytus,  and  the  editor 
himself,  appreciative  estimates  of  Neander  and  Olin.  Drs. 
Floy,  Curry,  T.  V.  Moore,  (of  the  Presbyterian  Church,) 
and  Mr.  H.  T.  Tuckerman  enriched  its  pages  with  arti- 
cles of  the  finest  quality  on  topics  which,  at  that  time, 
were  uppermost  in  the  minds  of  cultivated  men. 

It  was  the  purpose  of  Dr.  M'Clintock  to  keep  the 
Review  "  fully  abreast  of  the  age,  and  it  fell  in  with 
that  purpose  to  give  to  its  readers  a  searching  analysis 
of  Comte's  Positive  Philosophy,  in  a  scries  of  papers  by 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  209 

Professor  Holmes,  of  Virginia.  Comte's  system  of  Pos- 
itivism was  then  rising  into  notice  as  a  fearful  portent, 
the  last  and  strongest  expression  of  the  atheistic  view 
of  the  world.  Its  denial  of  a  place  for  theology  and 
metaphysics  in  the  realm  of  knowledge  ;  its  theory  of  the 
successive  stages  of  intellectual  progress,  by  means  of 
which  these  two  were  ruled  out ;  its  endeavor  to  organize 
sciences,  new  in  name,  if  not  in  substance  ;  its  hierarchy 
of  all  the  sciences — made  its  exposition  and  the  statement 
of  its  defects,  in  the  opinion  of  Dr.  M'Clintock,  of  su- 
preme importance  to  all  educated  men.  Laying  down 
the  broad  proposition,  that  what  cannot  be  scientifically 
known  is  not  knowable — that  inquiries  into  the  origin  and 
destiny  of  the  universe  are  fruitless,  because  beyond  the 
capacity  of  our  intelligence — Comte  opened  again  the 
question  of  the  certainty  and  limitations  of  human  knowl- 
edge, or,  as  it  is  now  phrased,  of  science  and  faith,  which 
at  present  fills  the  world.  Dr.  M'CUntock  had  the  sa- 
gacity to  perceive  that  the  advent  of  Positivism  was  the 
beginning  of  a  long  discussion,  and  entered  upon  it  with 
all  his  characteristic  energy  and  enthusiasm.  The  contrib- 
utor to  whom  this  task  was  allotted  performed  it  with 
such  candor  as  to  elicit  expressions  of  gratification  from 
Comte  himself. 

This  was  a  bold  line  of  policy  for  Dr.  M'Clintock 
to  pursue.  At  the  outset  of  his  editorial  life  he  was 
met  with  the  suggestion  that  a  Methodist  Quarterly 
Review  "  was  an  entire  mistake,  that  it  was  beyond  the 
needs  and  the  appreciation  of  the  body  of  ministers  for 

whom  it  was  designed.    His  friend,  Dr.  Olin,  was  of  this 
14 


210 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


opinion.  I  should  say,"  he  writes,  "  make  it  less  a 
'  Review  ;'  a  little  more  a  magazine.  The  '  Quarterly ' 
is  about  as  well  adapted  to  our  literature  as  the  arch- 
episcopal  palace  of  his  grace  of  Canterbury  to  one  of 
our  bishops.  The  idea  of  keeping  up  a  dignified  period- 
ical for  the  credit  of  the  Church  is  preposterous.  There 
is  no  true  dignity  where  there  is  no  adaptation." 

After  giving  this  advice  of  one  of  his  trusted  friends  all 
its  due  weight,  Dr.  M'Clintock  decided  to  adhere  to  his 
original  purpose,  and  to  make  the  "  Review  "  the  organ 
of  the  very  best  Christian  thought.  He  believed  that  his 
Church  had  something  to  say  on  the  life  questions  of 
the  age,  and  ought  to  say  it.  Its  literary  resources 
might  be  scant  at  the  moment,  but  they  would  in- 
crease if  encouragement  were  given  for  their  growth. 
He  cherished  the  hope  that  the  ''Quarterly"  might 
both  give  tone  to  the  Church's  thinking  and  encour- 
age literary  production.  Just  criticism  would  help 
the  preachers  to  discriminate  the  bad  from  the  good, 
and  would  keep  before  their  eyes  the  highest  ideals  of 
literary  excellence.  In  a  word,  he  held  firmly  to  the 
conviction  that  there  was  a  place  for  the  "  Review  "  as  a 
stimulant  and  guide  of  the  literary  activity  of  the  Church. 

Before  the  editor  entered  upon  his  work  the  General 
Conference  had  directed  him  to  make  the  ''  Quarterly  " 
"  more  practical."  ''  But  how?"  he  asks  in  his  first  ad- 
dress to  his  readers.  Not,  surely,  by  lowering  its  tone 
in  point  of  literature  and  scholarship;  that  could  never 
have  been  meant."  He  will,  therefore,  obey  his  official 
superiors,  and  at  the  same  time  adhere  to  his  own  sense 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  211 

of  what  is  fitting.  He  aimed  at  the  practical  in  articles 
on  BibUcal  exegesis,  the  faith,  disciphne,  and  poUty  of  the 
Church,  and  the  social  and  political  questions  of  the  age. 

As  to  the  first  he  insisted  that  the  interpretation  of  the 
Scriptures  being  the  chief  business  of  ministers,  it  was 
the  duty  of  the    Review  "  to  give  them  help  in  that  de- 
partment.   In  the  treatment  of  Methodist  questions  he 
demanded  freedom.      Nothing  is  gained,"  he  writes  in 
his  announcement,     to  religion  or  the  Church  by  at- 
tempts to  cut  off  investigation  or  to  stifle  honest  opin- 
ions.   Time  was  when  this  was  thought  to  be  a  Christian 
duty.    There  are,  doubtless,  some  who  think  it  such 
still,  who  would  shut  up  men's  minds  forever  in  their 
own  narrow  inclosure,  putting  a  barrier  to  inquiry  at  the 
precise  point  which  they  have  reached,  as  if  wisdom 
must  die  with  them.    To  these  men  every  new  view  of 
the  wants  or  duties  of  the  Church  is  heresy,  and  all  scru- 
tiny of  an  old  one  presumption.    With  such  we  have  no 
sympathy.    We  are  set  for  the  defence  of  the  Church, 
whose  servants  we  are  ;  her  best  and  surest  defence  is  to 
be  found  in  calling  out  her  energies  for  the  great  work 
of  advancing  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  and  in  showing  that 
she  is  not,  as  her  enemies  say,  a  bulwark  behind  which 
all  forms  of  social  wrong  and  crime  can  intrench  them- 
selves securely." 

These  are  the  words  of  a  brave  and  fearless  spirit,  and 
to  the  line  here  laid  down  Dr.  M'Clintock  adhered  faith- 
fully for  the  eight  years  of  his  official  term.  In  treating 
public  questions  he  rejected,  as  he  heartily  despised,  the 
"  false  conservatism,  at  once  domineering  and  timid, 


212 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


despotic  and  servile,  which  would  stand  as  still  as  possible 
when  all  the  world  is  in  motion;"  but  no  less  did  he  dis- 
dain the  morbid  appetite  for  new  measures  which 
forms  some  men's  substitute  for  virtue."  He  had  the 
conservative  instincts  which  come  of  large  scholarship  ; 
but  loved  progress,  too,  as  every  one  will  who  has  a 
hopeful  and  "  forward-looking  mind."  To  raise  the  lit- 
erary character  of  the  Review  "  he  added  departments  of 
Theological  and  Literary  Intelligence,  and  extended  the 
Critical  Notices  so  as  to  include  the  best  English  and 
foreign  books  which  it  might  interest  his  readers  to  be 
acqnainted  with.  He  set  his  face  as  flint  against  the 
indiscriminate  puffing  of  Methodist  publications.  "  It 
seems  to  have  grown,"  he  writes,  "  into  a  sort  of  com- 
mon law  among  our  periodicals  that  all  books  from  our 
own  presses,  or  from  those  of  our  friends,  should  be 
lauded,  of  course.  It  is  high  time  for  us  to  be  just  to 
ourselves.  And  we  give  our  brethren  of  the  newspaper 
press  notice  that  they  may  begin  with  us,  if  they  please  ; 
if  our  journal  is  liable  to  censure  in  any  particular,  we 
hope  they  will  bestow  it."  Added  to  all  these,  essays 
on  Biblical  and  philological  criticism  and  the  high 
themes  of  philosophy  rounded  out  his  editorial  scheme. 

He  knew  that  in  working  out  this  conception  of  a 
"  Review  "  the  difficulties  to  be  met  were  formidable. 
At  the  time  of  his  entrance  upon  his  office  the  Church 
had  not  done  much  more  than  lay  the  foundations  of  its 
first  Biblical  school  ;  its  authors  of  acknowledged  reputa- 
tion were  very  few.  He  understood,  too,  perfectly  well, 
that  the  practical  religious  interest  had  dominated  hitherto 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  213 

in  American  Methodism,  but  he  saw  clearly  that  this  in- 
terest would  be  safe  only  in  so  far  as  it  was  illustrated, 
defended,  and  protected  by  a  corresponding  literature. 
As  all  life  which  is  destined  permanently  to  affect  the 
world  finds  for  itself  fitting  literary  expression,  so,  he 
was  confident,  the  great  vital  force  of  Methodism  would, 
in  time,  issue  in  appropriate  literary  creation.  To  stim- 
ulate other  minds  to  the  exercise  of  their  best  activity  was, 
therefore,  the  one  duty  which  he  laid  upon  himself  dur- 
ing these  years.  As  was  said,  during  the  war,  of  General 
Sheridan,  that  he  carried  an  atmosphere  about  him  that 
invigorated  the  courage  of  every  soldier,  so  it  may  be 
said  of  Dr.  M'Clintock  during  this  part  of  his  life,  that 
his  mental  energy  was  felt  by  all  men  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact.  His  growing  acquisitions  made  him 
always  fresh  ;  his  geniality  disposed  him  to  communicate 
freely  what  he  knew  ;  his  imagination  colored  and  mag- 
nified the  objects  of  his  interest,  and  his  warm  feeling 
gave  them  life.  It  was  during  these  years  that  he  pro- 
jected the  "  Cyclopaedia  of  Biblical,  Theological,  and 
Ecclesiastical  Literature,"  which  was  subsequently  un- 
dertaken by  him  and  Dr.  James  Strong.  Originally  it 
was  proposed  that  four  scholars  of  the  Church  should 
prepare  the  work  under  his  supervision  as  official  ed- 
itor of  books.  The  men  were  named,  and  a  meeting 
was  had  with  the  Book  Agents,  who,  after  much  de- 
liberation, decided  that  the  undertaking  was  beyond 
their  means.  Another  of  his  cherished  ideas  was  a  series 
of  theological  text-books  for  Methodist  ministers.  He 
urged  his  friend.  Dr.  Olin,  to  write  a  volume  on  moral 


214 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


philosophy.  Nothing  could  have  been  better,  but  Dr. 
Olin's  precarious  health  forbade  the  attempt.  He  also 
urged  the  appointment  by  the  General  Conference  of 
committees  to  revise  the  standard  catechisms  and  the 
liturgy  of  the  Church.  Of  both  these  committees  he 
was  an  important  member. 

He  had  not  been  long  established  in  his  new  home  be- 
fore it  was  darkened  by  the  loss  of  its  brightest  light — 
his  devoted  wife.  Her  health  had  been  feeble  for 
months,  but  no  fatal  result  was  anticipated  either  by 
herself  or  her  husband.  In  the  winter  of  1849-50  alarm- 
ing symptoms  appeared,  and  by  early  spring  she  passed 
away.  Mrs.  M'Clintock  combined  sweet  affectionate- 
ness  with  a  calm  temper  and  extraordinary  capacity  of 
endurance.  In  times  of  trial  her  firmness  was  invincible. 
She  entered  fully  into  her  husband's  pursuits,  and,  by 
cheering,  lightened  his  labors.  Their  home  was  sunny 
and  happy,  a  centre  of  attraction  to  the  many  friends 
who  came  within  the  circle  of  its  beautiful  life. 

March  17,  1850. 

Two  weeks  ago  yesterday  my  dear  Augusta  died.  I  cannot  yet 
realize  it.  Every  thing  wears  a  strange  aspect.  I  don't  know 
whether  you  will  understand  me  ;  but  perhaps  you  will  when  I  tell 
you  that  a  sort  of  mist  seems  to  hang  over  every  thing.  Even 
streets,  houses,  and  all  familiar  objects  appear  thus.  I  work,  work 
hard,  but  it  appears  mechanical,  and  even  unreal.  Is  it  not  well  that 
this  earth  is  thus  shown  to  be  not  our  home  ?  By  and  by  we  shall 
be  strangers  in  it,  as  our  fathers  were,  and  shall  feel  that  our  kindred 
and  our  home  are  in  heaven  above.  So  one  can  become  a  stranger, 
even  in  the  home  of  his  youth  and  love,  as  all  that  made  it  home  for 
him  vanish  into  darkness  and  silence.    One  after  another  they  are 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


215 


going.  For  some  years  I  have  felt  no  confidence  in  human  life.  I 
feel  less  than  ever  now.  All  my  arrangements  seem  to  me  pro- 
visional and  temporary  ;  a  few  years  ago  I  talked  of  them  as  perma- 
nent. There  is  no  permanence  here  ;  God  does  not  mean  that  there 
should  be.  There,  and  there  only,  where  Christ  is  and  where  our 
loved  ones  are,  is  our  continuing  city. 

I  did  not  think  she  would  die  soon  until  a  day  or  two  before  her 
end.  Nay,  on  the  Thursday  I  thought  she  had  turned  a  crisis,  and 
would  rally.  Not  supposing  her  end  near,  I  did  not  talk  with  her 
about  it.  From  a  number  of  expressions  of  hers  that  her  mother 
and  my  sister  have  since  mentioned  to  me,  I  infer  that  she  thought 
of  it.  But  her  fortitude  and  firmness  were  so  indomitable  that  never 
a  fear,  a  complaint,  or  an  anxiety  escaped  her  lips.  In  respect  to 
that  quality  of  endurance,  I  never  saw  man  or  woman  that  ap- 
proached her.  To  the  last  she  was  far  more  careful  of  others  than 
of  herself. 

May  15,  1850. 

My  own  thoughts  and  affections  are  far  more  taken  off  the  world 
than  they  have  ever  been  before,  and  perhaps  it  is  for  this  result  that 
afflictions  have  rained  upon  me  so  heavily  and  incessantly.  It  needed 
great  affliction  to  remove  the  film  from  my  eyes,  and  to  let  me  see 
the  world  as  it  is.  How  worthless,  how  trifling  do  all  purely  earthly 
enterprises  and  affairs  seem  when  the  shadow  of  death  hangs  over 
us,  as  it  now  perpetually  hangs  over  me  !  Don't  think  that  I  am 
gloomy,  or  that  I  wish  to  infect  your  own  thoughts  with  gloom  ;  far 
from  it ;  but  such  appear  to  me  to  be  the  realities  of  life,  and  I  don't 
know  why.    I  have  just  put  down  what  I  feel. 

To  recruit  his  health,  Dr.  M'Clintock  determined  on  a 
trip  to  Europe  in  the  summer  of  1850,  in  company  with 
his  friends  Mr.  James  Bishop.,  of  New  Jersey,  Mr.  J.  W. 
Harper,  Jun.,  and  his  cousin,  Mr.  William  Divine,  of 
Philadelphia.  Mr.  Divine's  daughter  was  also  one  of 
the  party.  During  all  this  long  journey  Mr.  Bishop 
watched  over  the  invalid  editor  with  brotherly  care. 


2l6 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


Steamer  Washington,  Friday,  iraij  24, 1S50. 

How  often  since  Monday  have  we  wished  that  you  could  peep  in 
to  see  how  delightfully  we  get  along  !  1  do  not  wonder  now  that 
people  who  have  been  at  sea  want  to  go  again — such  a  perfect  adan- 
don  of  feeling,  casting  away  of  all  care,  thought,  and  anxiety  I  had 
not  conceived  possible.  We  left  you  at  twelve  ;  at  two  we  dismissed 
our  pilot.  A  poor  fellow  had  smuggled  himself  on  board  in  hope  of 
getting  a  free  passage  ;  but  unfortunately  he  had  made  himself 
drunk,  and  couldn't  hide.  He  was  a  Scotch  tailor,  of  very  good 
appearance.  He  begged  hard  :  "  O,  captain  dear,  give  me  a  steer- 
age passage.  I'll  be  of  great  service  on  board.  I'll  mend  all  your 
clothes."  No  use ;  go  he  must,  and  when  the  little  cock-boat  came 
alongside  for  the  pilot,  the  mate  tied  a  rope  round  the  tailor's  waist 
and  let  him  down,  saying,  with  much  more  wit  than  reverence,  "  The 
Lord  gave,  the  Lord  hath  taken  away,  blessed  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord."  At  half  past  three  we  sat  down  to  dinner  with  good  appe- 
tites. In  about  three  minutes  Miss  D.  got  up,  looking  very  white, 
and  hurried  to  her  room.  In  five  minutes  more  William  had  to  run. 
The  next  to  go  was  Bishop.  I  stood  it  out  till  the  dessert  came, 
and  then  thought  it  prudent  to  get  below.  For  about  an  hour  we  sat 
there,  D.,  B.,  and  I,  who  occupy  one  state-room,  casting  up  in  turn, 
beating  each  other's  backs,  and  laughing  till  we  almost  burst. 
Badly  as  we  felt,  each  saw  the  other's  movements  in  so  ineffably 
ludicrous  a  light  that  we  could  not  keep  still. 

The  ship  is  very  steady  and  comfortable.  The  attention  is  beyond 
any  thing  I  had  supposed.  We  have  plenty  of  water,  abundance  of 
ice-water  in  our  state-room  all  the  time,  a  lamp  burning  all  night,  and 
any  thing  we  choose  to  call  for.  The  table  is  superabundant  and 
superexcellent. 

We  have  Forti  on  board,  the  opera  singer,  and  he  sang  the  "  Mar- 
seilles "  for  us  yesterday  (Maretzek  accompanying  him  on  the  piano) 
in  his  very  best  style.  It  was  really  magnificent.  His  state-room 
is  next  ours,  and  he  lets  his  lungs  out  every  morning  just  about  as 
we  are  getting  up,  and  of  all  lungs  I  have  seen  or  heard  of,  his  beat. 
Since  the  first  day  my  heart  has  not  troubled  me. 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


217 


Saturday  Morjimg— Our  run  thus  far  has  averaged  o\er  two 
hundred  miles  a  day.  Yesterday  it  was  two  hundred  and  thirteen. 
It  will  get  faster  ever>'  day,  as  we  burn  about  thirty  tons  daily,  and 
the  ship  sails  better  as  she  is  lightened.  Before  we  get  across  we 
expect  to  run  two  hundred  and  fifty  and  two  hundred  and  eighty 
miles  a  day.  The  sea  is  ver>'  rough  now,  and  many  passengers 
are  sick  ;  but  I  have  stood  in  the  bows  for  hours,  rocking  as  if  in  a 
swing,  and  enjoying  it  more  than  1  ever  did  a  swing.  How  I  have 
wished  the  children  along  !  There  are  about  twenty  children  aboard, 
and  they  are  as  happy  as  crickets. 

TcESDAT,  Mtiy  2S. 

We  have  made  much  more  than  half  our  passage.  On  Sunday 
morning  I  preached  a  short  sermon  of  about  thirty  minutes  from 
I  John  iv,  19  ;  most  of  the  passengers  were  present,  and  they  were 
very  attentive.  It  did  not  hurt  me  at  all.  I  have  not  been  a  particle 
seasick,  though  Sunday  night  and  all  day  Monday  we  had  a  severe 
gale  from  the  north-west.  The  sea  ran,  as  they  say,  "  mountains 
high,"  a  thing  of  which  I  had  no  just  conception  before.  I  kept 
the  deck  nearly  all  the  time  to  see  and  enjoy  it,  in  spite  of  wind, 
rain,  and  spray.  The  funniest  sight  of  all  was  the  dinner-table,  at 
which  as  much  crockery  has  been  broken  \vithin  the  last  few  days 
as  would  keep  you  in  store  for  a  twelvemonth.  The  dishes  are  all 
secured  to  the  tables  with  racks,  but  when  the  tables  tilt  up  suddenly 
at  an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees  no  racks  will  keep  soup  from  flying. 
We  have  made  some  very  pleasant  acquaintances  among  the  pas- 
sengers, and  some  of  them  (Germans)  will  be  of  use  to  us  after  we 
get  on  shore. 

My  health  has  improved  very  much,  as  proof  of  which  I  may  tell 
you  that  I  walked  the  decks  for  three  hours  yesterday  in  a  storm  of 
wind  and  rain,  which  kept  all  the  passengers  below  but  two  or  three. 

I  will  now  close  up.  It  has  been  storming,  and  raining,  and  blow- 
ing all  day,  but  we  are  fast  nearing  the  English  coast.  If  nothing 
happens  we  shall  see  it  on  Sunday,  and  land  at  Cowes  on  Monday. 
Thence  to  Bremen  is  forty-eight  hours.  I  shall  probably  write  a 
short  letter  from  Bremen. 


2l8 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


Berlin,  June  19.  1S50. 

"  The  first-class  cars  are  occupied,"  the  Germans  say,  "  only  by 
princes  and  fools,"  as  the  fare  is  too  high  for  sensible  people;  but 
we  took  them  twice,  by  way  of  experiment,  and  the  way  hats  were 
doffed  and  bows  made  was  a  caution. 

Of  the  splendor  of  Berlin  I  need  not  stop  to  speak.  I  had  no  con- 
ception of  the  old  world  until  I  came  here,  and  I  could  not  transfer 
my  present  conceptions  to  you  if  I  were  to  write  for  a  week.  I  have 
been  received  with  the  utmost  kindness  by  Professor  Jacobi,  and 
all  the  rest  of  the  professors  I  have  seen.  I  took  tea  on  Wed- 
nesday with  Mr.  Fay,  our  charge  ;  last  night  with  Dr.  Twesten,  of 
the  university,  who  has  a  very  pretty  daughter  that  speaks  English  ; 
to-morrow  night,  I  am  engaged  to  Professor  Jacobi,  and  have  two 
invitations  for  Sunday,  one  to  Nitzsch  and  one  to  Becker,  I  should 
have  enough  to  do  receiving  civilities  if  I  were  to  stay  here  a  month. 
They  don't  ask  blessing  here  at  table,  as  we  do,  at  preachers'  houses 
or  any  others  ;  they  don't  make  much  of  Sunday,  either.  Last  Sun- 
day, in  Magdeburgh,  our  valel  de  place  wished  to  get  us  tickets  for 
the  opera  ;  and  so  it  is  every-where.  However,  there  is  less  business 
done  on  Sunday  than  I  had  supposed. 

Basel,  Switzerland,  Jxdy  17,  1850. 

It  seems  selfish,  I  was  beginning  to  say,  for  me  to  enjoy  any  thing 
here,  when  my  loved  wife  is  lying  in  the  cold  ground.  Often  and 
often  this  feeling  comes  upon  me  overwhelmingly.  But  a  year  ago 
we  were  travelling — she  and  I  and  the  two  children — in  a  pleasant 
carriage  among  the  mountains  of  Northern  Pennsylvania.  I  was 
sick,  and  she  tended  me  by  day  and  watched  me  by  night ;  and  O 
how  happy  we  were,  in  spite  of  sickness  and  care  !  And  now  every 
thing  is  changed.  They  say  that  Time  heals  all  wounds,  and  I  have 
lived  long  enough  to  know  that  he  does  heal  some  ;  but  ah,  they  ache 
sadly  in  the  healing  and  leave  deep  scars  behind. 

I  have  just  returned  from  a  walk  around  the  old  walls  and  fortifi- 
cations of  the  town.  The  roar  of  the  Rhine  was  in  our  ears  nearly 
all  the  way,  even  amid  the  noise  of  the  streets.  I  stepped  on  the  plat- 
form behind  the  old  cathedral — a  building,  by  the  way,  some  eight 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  2ig 

hundred  years  old,  at  least  part  of  it — and  looked  around  on  the  city 
and  the  river,  and  gazed  on  its  beauty  as  it  were  on  the  beauty  of  a 
dream.  We  have  no  Alps,  no  Rhine,  in  America.  And  so  T  might 
say  of  a  thousand  other  things.  Here,  too,  in  Switzerland,  there  is 
no  royalty  ;  one  is  not  annoyed  every  hour,  as  in  Germany,  with  the 
sound  of  drums,  or  with  the  sight  of  troops  marching  and  counter- 
marching. Nor  have  any  passports  been  demanded  of  us,  or  any 
examination  of  baggage,  from  the  time  we  entered  Switzerland  until 
now  that  we  are  leaving  it. 

To  Doctor  Olzn. 

July  21,  1850. 

You  know  so  little  about  this  European  world  that  I  suppose  I 
ought  to  fill  up  several  sheets  with  minute  accounts  of  cathedrals, 
palaces,  museums,  picture  galleries,  and  the  like,  for  your  edification 
and  instruction.  But  I  cannot  take  the  time  to  enlighten  you  in  this 
way.  Take  a  voyage  across  the  Atlantic  once,  or  buy  Murray's 
Hand-books,  and  get  Mrs.  Olin  to  read  them  for  you  quietly  at  home, 
and  you  may  get  some  glimmering  notion  of  what  we  travellers  have 
seen.  Nevertheless,  I  do  think  that  I  have  seen  some  things  that 
you  have  not.  You  never  landed  at  Bremerhaven,  did  you  ?  You 
never  went,  uninvited,  to  a  German  country-seat  to  tea,  and  found 
yourself  amid  ten  or  a  dozen  sprightly  German  women  spending  an 
afternoon  in  a  peasant's  cottage,  fitted  up  for  a  lady's  abode,  and 
wandered  about  'mid  parks  and  pleasure  grounds  talking  broken 
German  to  a  very  accomplished  lady,  whom  you  had  never  seen  be- 
fore in  your  life  }  But  Bishop  and  I  did  all  that.  Indeed,  throughout 
Germany,  I  have  found  it  the  easiest  and  pleasantest  thing  in  the 
world  to  get  into  good  society ;  and  one  learns  in  that  way  more  of 
the  life  of  the  people  in  a  week  than  he  could  otherwise  in  a  year. 

Our  route  w^as  from  Bremen  to  Hanover,  Hamburgh,  Brunswick, 
Magdeburgh,  Berlin,  Halle,  Leipsic,  Dresden,  Niiremberg,  Augs- 
burg, Munich,  Lake  Constance,  Zurich,  Mount  Rhigi,  Thun,  Berne, 
Basel,  Strasburg,  Heidelberg,  and  finally  to  Frankfort.  Our  longest 
delays  were  in  Berlin,  Dresden,  and  Munich,  where  there  was  most 


220 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


to  see.  In  Berlin  I  found  the  professors  at  the  university  all  po- 
hteness  and  attention.  I  could  have  spent  months  pleasantly  with 
them.  I  took  tea  with  Dr.  Twesten,  rector  of  the  university,  and 
the  leading  dogmatic  theologian  of  Europe,  and  found  him  a  ge- 
nial, cordial  old  man  enough.  He  was  inclined  to  be  a  little  se- 
vere about  black  slavery,  but  I  told  him  that  our  slaves  were  all 
black,  which,  unhappily,  was  not  the  case  in  Berlin.  He  seemed 
much  interested  in  Methodism,  and  very  ignorant,  indeed,  about  it. 

At  Professor  Jacobi's,  however,  I  enjoyed  an  evening  v/ith  six  or 
eight  of  the  professors  and  of  the  city  preachers,  brought  together 
for  our  gratification.  Of  course,  Bremen  Methodism  was  a  topic  of 
discussion  ;  they  all  thought  it  an  unnecessary  movement,  except  an 
old  gentleman  who  had  been  a  missionary  in  Bombay,  and  had  there 
become  familiar  with  Methodist  missions,  and  he  told  me  to  send 
as  many  good  men  as  we  could,  not  merely  to  Bremen,  but  to  any 
point  in  Germany.  We  had  to  explain  the  whole  polity  of  Method- 
ism, of  any  knowledge  of  which  they  were  all — except  Jacobi  and 
the  old  Bombayan — perfectly  innocent.  Strauss,  for  instance,  had 
never  seen  a  prayer-meeting,  nor,  indeed,  had  any  of  the  others  ; 
and  I  had  to  go  through  the  whole  ceremony  of  one  from  beginning 
to  end.  The  acme  of  their  wonder  and  bewilderment  was  reached 
when  they  were  told  how  the  preachers  were  supported  ;  they  all  ad- 
mitted that  they  would  have  a  poor  allowance  if  they  had  to  depend 
upon  the  voluntary  contributions  of  the  people.  I  charitably  told 
them  that  in  less  than  ten  years  they  would  find  a  large  church 
edifice,  probably  with  a  nice  steeple,  in  Bremen,  and  that  the 
preachers  would  be  well  supported  by  the  voluntary  contributions 
of  Germans,  whereat  they  not  only  opened  their  eyes,  but  pretty 
plainly  gave  me  to  understand  that  they  thought  me  a  very  decided, 
though  perhaps  amiable,  enthusiast. 

To  his  Daughter. 

Munich,  July  6,  1850. 
One  day  I  looked  out  of  my  window  in  the  Hotel  de  Saxe  at  Dres- 
den, and  saw  in  a  large  bay-window  of  the  opposite  house  a  little 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


221 


girl,  about  as  big  as  you,  playing  with  a  lady.  The  lady  wanted  to 
sew,  or  pretended  to  ;  but  the  little  girl  would  just  let  her  begin,  and 
would  then  throw  both  arms  around  her  neck  and  kiss  her — or  kiss 
her  eyes  or  her  forehead — and  so  she  kept  on.  The  little  girl's  back 
was  toward  me,  and  the  back  of  her  head  and  her  hair  were  so  much 
like  yours,  that,  if  it  had  been  near  home,  I  should  have  thought  it 
was  you.  You  may  imagine  that  it  made  me  a  little  homesick.  In- 
deed, I  would  gladly  go  home  for  a  night,  if  possible,  and  have  a 
chat  all  together,  and  tell  stories  in  the  twilight  before  prayers  ;  but 
that  pleasure  I  must  postpone  for  some  months.  In  the  mean  time 
I  pray  that  God's  blessing  may  rest  upon  you,  my  dear  child,  and 
that  you  may  be  good  and  obedient  to  your  aunts,  so  as  to  be  a  com- 
fort to  them,  and  to  me  when  I  hear  from  you. 

Munich,  July  7,  1S50. 
It  is  a  queer  country,  this.  I  think  you  would  enjoy  a  visit  to  it 
amazingly.  The  people  seem  determined  to  enjoy  this  life,  at  least, 
though,  from  all  outward  appearance,  they  do  not  think  much  about 
preparation  for  the  next  world.  The  streets  have  been  full  to-day 
(Sunday)  of  gay  groups  of  promenaders  ;  battalion  after  battalion 
of  troops  has  passed  my  window,  and  military  music  has  been 
playing  near  for  the  comfort  of  the  townspeople.  At  noon  the  stores 
are  all  opened,  and  the  vSunday,  for  any  religious  purpose,  is  held  to 
be  over.  I  just  looked  out  of  my  window,  and  saw  a  lady  in  the 
house  opposite  sitting  with  her  work-table  before  her,  sewing  away 
on  a  frock  for  dear  life.  All  the  theaters,  opetas,  concerts,  etc.,  are 
open  to-night.  In  fact  Sunday  is  generally  their  most  profitable  day  for 
business.  I  dined  to-day  in  the  restaurant  attached  to  the  hotel,  and 
in  the  same  room  several  gentlemen  were  playing  billiards  while  we 
were  eating  our  dinner.  Recollect,  too,  that  this  is  Sunday.  You 
may  ask  why  I  write  on  Sunday  ;  but  if  I  don't,  the  letter  won't  reach 
Liverpool  in  time  for  next  Saturday's  steamer,  and  so  will  lose  a 
week. 


222 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


Paris,  July  28,  1850. 

You  can  hardly  imagine  the  pleasure  with  which  I  received  two 
budgets  of  letters  yesterday  on  our  arrival  in  this  great  city.  For 
two  hours  Paris  and  all  its  attractions  were  forgotten  ;  even  the 
breakfast  went  away  almost  untasted. 

I  have  decided  to  settle  at  Bon?t,  on  the  Rhine,  above  Cologne,  as 
I  think  it  will  make  a  better  and  pleasanter  winter  residence  than 
Heidelberg,  though  not  quite  as  cheap.  It  is  more  central  and  ac- 
cessible, being  only  thirty-six  hours  from  London,  thirty-six  from 
Paris,  and  twenty-four  from  Berlin.  I  can  get  news  from  home 
there  very'  promptly,  and  shall  also,  I  think,  find  pleasant  acquaint- 
ances. One  of  the  professors,  a  very  eminent  man,  (Professor  Dor- 
ner,)  who  treated  me  with  the  greatest  kindness  and  attention  while 
there,  has  engaged  to  secure  me  lodgings  as  soon  as  I  write  from 
London  that  I  am  sure  of  going  to  Bonn.  So  that  matter  is  all 
settled. 

Paris,  after  all,  caps  the  climax.  It  is  the  showiest,  the  aosurdest, 
the  most  attractive,  the  most  wicked,  the  most  contradictory  of  all 
places  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  In  spite  of  revolutions,  perils,  and 
broils,  if  ihts  world  only  were  to  be  considered,  Paris  would  be  the 
most  desirable  spot  in  the  world  to  live  in.  At  the  Hotel  Maurice, 
where  we  stopped  the  first  night,  there  are  no  less  than  sixty  Amer- 
icans now,  and  there  are  multitudes  more  scattered  in  different  parts 
of  the  city.  We  shall  stay  here  a  week,  and  then  get  on  to  London, 
where  the  Conference  commences  July  31. 

Paris,  July  80,  1850. 

After  a  long  round  in  Europe  we  are  arrived,  at  last,  at  its  capital, 
for  such  is  Paris.  Our  route  has  been,  I  think,  an  excellent  one,  and 
it  has  allowed  us  to  see  a  great  deal  in  a  comparatively  short  time. 
From  Munich  we  went  into  Switzerland,  visiting  the  Lakes  of  Con- 
stance, Lucerne,  Zurich,  and  Thun,  and  ascending  to  the  top  of 
Mount  Righi,  which  affords  a  view  of  three  hundred  miles  reach, 
bounded  by  the  Jura  Mountains  on  the  east,  the  Tyrol  on  the  west, 
and  the  chain  of  snow-clad  Alps  on  the  south.  I  suppose  the 
world  does  not  furnish  another  such  a  view.    From  Switzerland,  by 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


223 


Basel  and  Strasburg,  to  Heidelberg,  where  I  stopped  to  look  about  a 
little,  thinking  that  I  might  perhaps  stay  a  year  there.  Thence  to 
Frankfurt-am-Main,  where  we  spent  a  very  pleasant  Sunday,  and 
then  down  the  Rhine  to  Bonn.  The  beauties  of  the  Rhine  have  not 
been  exaggerated ;  indeed,  they  cannot  be.  In  one  or  two  spots  the 
Hudson  gives  some  idea  of  the  natural  beauties  of  the  Rhine  ;  but 
it  can  convey  none  of  that  which  art  and  ages  of  history  have  done 
for  the  Rhine.  At  Bonn,  on  the  Rhine,  I  was  so  well  pleased  with 
the  situation  of  the  place,  with  the  university,  and  the  professors, 
that  I  determined,  if  the  boys  come  over,  to  settle  there  for  the 
winter.  The  kindness  of  the  Germans  is  proverbial,  and  I  found  all 
accounts  of  it  fully  verified  in  my  own  case. 

You  would  have  been  amused  if  you  could  have  seen  us  the  other 
day  at  the  National  Assembly.  We  had  procured  tickets,  with  great 
trouble  and  expense,  as  they  are  very  hard  to  get.  The  galleries  of 
the  House  of  Representatives  are  arranged  one  above  the  other,  like 
boxes  in  a  theater,  and  out  tickets  took  us  up  into  the  third  loft, 
where  we  could  neither  see  nor  hear  very  well.  I  told  the  sergeant 
who  showed  us  our  seat  that  we  did  not  like  the  place,  and  wanted 
to  go  lower  down.  "  I  can't  help  it,  sir,"  said  he,  "  your  tickets  are 
for  this  tribune."  "  But,"  said  I,  "  we  are  Americans,  and  one  of  us 
is  a  member  of  one  of  the  legislative  assemblies  in  America."  As 
soon  as  he  heard  we  were  Americans  he  redoubled  his  politeness, 
and  finally  told  me  to  send  a  note  down  to  the  qticEstor,  who  could, 
perhaps,  give  us  better  seats.  He  sent  down  Bishop's,  and  Divine's, 
and  my  own.  Directly  he  returned  with  orders  to  take  us  into  the 
"  tribune  of  the  diplomatic  corps  !  "  So  we  went,  and  found  there 
Josiah  Randall,  who  had  got  in  by  our  embassador's  ticket,  and  won- 
dered how  on  earth  we  had  found  our  way  there. 

I  preached  this  morning  in  the  Wesleyan  Chapel  at  twelve  o'clock. 
Before  preaching  they  read  the  prayers  of  the  Episcopal  form,  and, 
in  spite  of  all  my  wishes  to  the  contrary,  I  was  tired  of  them  be- 
fore they  got  through.  The  forms  may  be  good,  but  they  would  cer- 
tainly be  the  better  of  considerable  abridgment. 


224 


LIP'E  AND  LETTERS  OF 


To  Doctor  Olin, 

New  Youk,  Sept.  2o,  1850. 

You  have  heard  rightly  that  I  have  gained  strength  and  fatness  by 
my  four  months  of  idleness  ;  and  the  experiment  satisfies  me  pretty 
well  that  with  an  out-of-door  life  and  a  quiet  mind  I  may  yet  be  re- 
stored to  sound  health.  But  I  cannot  deceive  you  or  myself  so  far  as 
to  say  that  I  have  yet  reached  that  point.  The  trouble  of  my  heart 
has  mainly  disappeared  as  my  general  health  has  improved  ;  but  it  is 
there  yet,  and  gives  me  warning  ever  and  anon  against  any  excess. 
I  have  had  to  work  for  nine  days  pretty  steadily,  and  I  feel  the  effects 
of  it.  I  have,  therefore,  no  hope  of  doing  fully  the  duties  of  my  sta- 
tion here.  Any  possible  performance,  in  the  present  state  of  things, 
is  so  far  below  my  ideal  of  what  the  office  and  the  times  demand, 
that  I  fear  my  spirits  will  soon  fail  again,  and  I  shall  feel  inclined — 
perhaps  from  a  sense  of  duty,  perhaps  from  a  craving  for  repose — to 
give  place  to  some  stronger  man,  who  can  do  what  I  cannot.  A  few 
months,  however,  will  probably  decide  this  question. 

One  of  my  first  efforts,  after  visiting  rrty  family  friends  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, will  be  to  get  up  to  Middletown.  I  intend  to  take  as  many 
trips  as  the  state  of  my  purse  will  allow,  as  it  will  not  do  for  me  to 
change  suddenly  from  so  very  active  a  life  to  sedentary  habits.  Like 
the  swallow,  I  must  settle  down  to  my  nest  in  gradually  narrowing 
circles.  And  if  it  were  not  so,  I  have  love  enough  for  you  to  go 
much  farther  for  the  opportunity  of  seeing  you  in  health  and  of 
hearing  you  talk,  to  say  nothing  of  my  regard  for  Mrs.  Olin,  which 
I  could  not  exaggerate  in  words. 

My  own  opinion  is,  as  it  has  been,  that  I  ought  to  have  re- 
mained abroad  until  next  spring,  but,  as  circumstances  almost 
compelled  my  return,  I  feel  satisfied  with  the  result,  and  rejoice 
in  being  again  within  reach  of  my  friends.  O  that  more  of  them 
lived  in  or  about  New  York  ! 

To  the  Rev.  T.  V.  Moore. 

Nov.  13, 1850. 

Could  I  get  to  Richmond  without  being  lynched?  Wouldn't  they 
take  me  up  on  suspicion  of  enticing  away  slaves  ?    Seriously,  I  have 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


225 


fears  that  I  could  not  venture  even  that  far  into  the  region  of  slavery 
without  the  risk  of  insult  at  least.  No  papers  abused  me  more  vio- 
lently in  1847  than  the  "Richmond  Enquirer"  and  "Richmond 
Whig;"  but  perhaps  all  that,  too,  has  gone  into  the  omnivorous 
"tomb  of  the  Capulets."  Well,  I  feel  strongly  inclined  to  run  the 
risk  when  I  go  to  Washington,  which  will  be  some  time  in  January 
or  early  in  February,  (D.  V.) 

To  Mrs.  J.  IV.  Marshall. 

Jan.  24, 1851. 

Well,  you  have  had  your  Virginia  trip,  and  must  now  subside  into 
Bceotian,  Pennsylvania,  dullness  again.  Tell  your  stronger  half 
(the  Professor  of  Languages)  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  go 
over  to  the  office  since  sending  his  package,  but  that  1  shall  go  in  a 
few  daye,  and  then  I  will  send  off  the  rest  of  his  books.  You  must 
not  suppose  my  inability  springs  from  ill-health  ;  it  is  a  job  of  heavy 
work  that  has  been  impending  for  a  long  time,  and  which  I  am  staying 
at  home  to  accomplish.  A  few  days  will  clear  it  off.  I  only  work  hard 
from  nine  to  four,  so  you  see  there  is  no  danger  of  my  getting  into 
the  old  Carlisle  habit  of  digging  and  delving  all  day  and  all  night, 

I  am  not  unhappy,  writing  to  my  dear  friend ;  but  it  would  be  far 
happier  if  I  could  just  drop  in  upon  you  all  for  a  couple  of  hours' 
chat.  I  wish  you  could  find  a  nice  house  near  you  for  fifty  dollars  a 
year  rent,  where  we  could  live  for  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
more,  and  then  I  will  come,  live  as  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  and  drop 
in  every  day  !    Have  I  not  an  enlarged  ambition  ? 

I  am  inclined  to  think  I  shall  be  in  Carlisle  some  time  next  month 
or  early  in  March — but  don't  tell  any  body.  I  mean  to  take  it  for  a 
real  luxury  of  a  visit — all  visit  and  nothing  else.  And,  besides,  I  in- 
tend to  get  a  new  coat,  if  I  can  raise  the  chznk,  as  says.  Don't 

tell  this,  either. 

Ah,  what  a  foolish  letter !  but  it  must  go,  just  as  it  is.  God  bless  you  ! 
To  the  Rev.  T.  V.  Moore. 

May  7, 1851. 

You  have  seen  Whately's  "  Historic  Doubts,"  I  suppose.    A  new 
pamphlet  has  been  put  out  treating  the  modern  history  of  ranee 
15 


226 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


and  Napoleon  after  the  mythic  method  of  Strauss,  and  showing  it  up 
ven,- well.  You  will  find  it  noticed  in  the  "Athenseum,"  No.  1214. 
Have  you  read  Newman's  "Phases  of  Faith,"  "The  Soul,"  "The 
Hebrew  Monarchy?"  These  are  the  books  that  are  likely  soonest 
to  corrupt  the  youth  of  this  countr\\  Already  I  have  received  sad 
letters  from  divinity  candidates  about  them. 

This  is  a  ver\'  fragmentar)'  and  worthless  letter,  but  I  can  make  it 
no  better.  I  should  be  quite  at  sea  in  advising  you  as  to  the  mode 
of  taking  up  your  subject.  The  root  of  the  modern  scepticism  lies  in 
the  proposition  that  religzon  is  iiidepe?ident  of  history ;  and  hence 
that  it  matters  not  whether  documents  of  religion  are  really  historical 
or  not.  To  take  the  negative  of  this  position,  or  to  assume  the  pos- 
itive ground  that  the  true  religion  has  not  merely  had  a  deA'elopment 
in  time  but  that  we  have  a  veracious  and  final  record  of  that  devel- 
opment, would  cover  the  whole  ground — answering  Voltaire,  Lessing, 
Strauss,  Newman,  Emerson,  Parker,  and  all  the  rest  in  one.  But  to 
do  it — hie  labor,  hoe  opus  ! 

If  you  will  write  to  me  on  any  precise  points,  as  they  may  come  up 
in  your  thinking,  I  will  write  as  freely  as  I  can.  Nevertheless,  as 
you  may  see,  my  own  thoughts  are  undigested.  Much  and  long 
have  I  thought  and  read  of  these  things — oftentimes  with  pain  and  an- 
guish of  mind.    But  I  have  clear  daylight  of  heart  now,  if  not  of  head. 

J  lint  12,  1851. 

I  may,  during  my  travels,  see  some  rural  nook  that  will  tempt  me 
to  set  up  a  more  permanent  tabernacle  than  any  I  have  yet  tried  to 
establish.  I  long  for  the  country  and  for  rest ;  and  if  I  find  a  pleas- 
ant, retired,  shaded  place  within  my  means,  I  shall,  without  doubt, 
purchase  it,  with  a  view  to  looking  for  such  rest  next  spring.  In 
quiet  I  might  do  something,  I  hope,  that  would  ser\^e  the  Church  and 
the  world  in  the  way  of  writing — free  from  the  wear  and  tear  of 
office,  and  from  the  constant  calls  that  beset  one  so  importunately  in 
a  New  York  residence.  These  may  be  dreams,  but  they  attend  nrue  by 
day  as  well  as  by  night.  There  is,  at  all  events,  a  rest  reserved  for 
the  people  of  God.    May  we  be  so  happy  as  finally  to  enter  into  it ! 


THE  REV.  DR.  M  CLINTOCK. 


227 


April  4, 1851. 

Next  spring,  if  I  be  not  re-elected  to  the  editorship,  I  hope  to  re- 
tire into  some  quiet  country  retreat,  and  devote  myself  to  the  care  of 
my  children  and  of  my  health.  Indeed  I  have  many  doubts  whether 
1  ought  not  to  do  it  even  if  the  General  Conference  does  conclude  to 
keep  me  in  the  editorship.  The  basis  of  my  constitution  is,  I  think, 
not  shaken  ;  but  I  require  more  rest  and  exercise  than  I  can  com- 
mand in  this  or  any  other  church  post.  I  have  some  inclination 
toward  New  Brunswick,  where  my  friend  Bishop  is  building  a  house 
for  himself;  but  it  is  not  quite  rural  enough  for  my  ideal.  How  pos- 
itively charming  even  the  very  notion  of  such  a  rest  is  !  Do  you 
never  find  such  feelings  come  over  you  }  a  sort  of  anxiety  to  be  out 
of  tumult  and  bustle,  at  liberty  to  think  or  not  to  think,  to  walk,  or 
ride,  or  talk,  or  pray,  or  sleep,  just  as  you  please  7  I  trust  there  is 
no  wrong  in  indulging  such  dreams — for  mvalids,  of  course,  only, 
are  they  justifiable. 

In  the  summer  of  1851  Dr.  M'Clintock  was  called  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  Dr.  Olin.  Like  himself,  Dr.  OHn  was 
full  of  warm  sympathies  and  those  tender  solicitudes 
which  make  close  friendship  both  possible  and  enjoy- 
able. They  met  for  the  first  time  in  1843,  at  the 
close  of  that  year  Dr.  Olin  wrote :  I  congratulate  my- 
self upon  having  formed  your  acquaintance,  on  having 
become,  in  no  common  sense,  your  friend,  and  on  having 
secured  your  correspondence.  This  interest  will,  if  it 
please  God,  and  you  are  minded  favorably,  have  a  future 
to  it,  and  I  shall  often  enjoy  the  happiness  of  an  inter- 
change of  sentiments  and  counsels  with  an  intelligent, 
warm-hearted  Christian  man,  in  whom  I  fully  confide."  A 
few  years  later  he  asks,  playfully,  "  When  does  friendship 
become  old?    And  may  we  not  now  call  ourselves  old 


228 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


friends  ?  "  In  this  spirit  their  association  with  each  other 
was  maintained  until  it  was  broken  by  Dr.  OHn's  death. 
Unfortunately  for  Dr.  M'Clintock,  the  message  sent  to 
inform  him  of  his  friend's  peril  failed  to  reach  its  destina- 
tion, so  that  he  was  not  made  aware  of  Dr.  Olin's  illness 
until  after  it  had  ended  fatally. 

August  22, 1851. 

We  are  saddened  by  the  death  of  Dr.  Olin.  That  good,  grand 
man  has  passed  away  from  the  earth.  I  regret  most  bitterly  that  I 
was  not  able  to  be  with  him  in  his  illness.  He  telegraphed  for  me 
to  New  York,  but  they  did  not  know  where  to  send  after  me,  and  so 
I  heard  nothing  until  the  Monday  after  his  death.  So  Carlisle  and 
Middletown  are  both  without  presidents.  I  think  it  most  likely  that 
Collins  will  go  to  Carlisle,  but  who  will  go  to  Middletown  ?  The 
trustees  (or  some  of  them)  wish  me  to  give  my  name,  but  I  cannot 
consent  to  it.  My  health  is  now  regularly  improving,  I  think,  and  I 
feel  it  my  duty  to  remain  in  my  present  post. 

In  October,  185 1,  Dr.  M'Clintock  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Mrs.  Catharine  W.  Emory,  the  widow  of  Robert 
Emory,  who  still  survives  him.  In  the  same  month  he 
was  elected  to  fill  the  place  of  Dr.  Olin,  as  president  of 
Wesleyan  University.  The  invitation  was  accompanied 
by  every  evidence  of  cordiality  that  could  be  desired,  but 
in  view  of  uncertain  health  was  declined.  The  winter 
was  spent  in  writing  and  preaching,  of  which  latter  he 
did,  for  a  sick  man,  an  enormous  amount.  He  made  dur- 
ing these  years  specialties  of  the  Sunday-school  system 
and  missions,  and  had  many  calls  to  present  his  well- 
considered  views  on  both  topics. 

The  new  Catechism,  on  which  he  and  Dr.  D.  P.  Kid- 
der wrought  together,  was  much  in  his  thoughts.    "  My 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


229 


ideal,"  he  writes,  "  is  to  have  such  a  Catechism  as  can  be 
learned  by  any  child  and  retained,  and  to  have  laws 
passed  making  it  the  duty  of  every  minister  to  catechise 
the  children  in  addition  to  Sunday-school  instruction." 
There  were  times  during  his  editorship  when  he  felt  that 
he  was  not  doing  the  best  work  of  which  he  was  capable. 
"  Am  I  never,"  he  asks  in  his  diary,  to  do  any  thing 
better  than  translation  and  criticism?"  Much  that  he 
did,  as  an  editor,  was  necessarily  buried  out  of  sight.  It 
was  all  under  ground,  as  he  sometimes  complained,  and 
this  fact  inclined  him  to  look  for  a  retired  spot  where  he 
could  gather  together  his  best  thoughts,  and  embody 
them  in  some  literary  product  of  permanent  value  to  the 
world.  He  planned  in  this  regard  more  than  he  exe- 
cuted ;  but  so  will  every  man  who  has  a  love  of  labor  and 
an  active  brain. 

To  the  Rev.  T.  V.  Moore. 

January  13,  1352. 

If  I  had  the  physical  health,  I  should  greatly  desiderate  a  pastoral 
appointment,  with  two  sermons  to  preach  on  Sunday,  and  time  for 
work  during  the  week.  Your  position  now  is,  I  should  fancy,  just 
one  of  the  happiest  a  man  could  have,  so  far  as  outward  things  go 
to  make  up  human  happiness  ;  and  I  trust  you  wont  abandon  it  soon, 
unless  for  a  better  post,  say  in  New  York,  where  you  ought  to  be, 
and  where  I  hope  you  will  be  before  I  leave  these  parts.  Look  out 
for  a  call  on  the  first  important  vacancy  that  occurs. 

I  do  not  see  much  hope  of  getting  to  Richmond  this  winter ;  1 
wish  I  could.  Shall  you  be  on  this  way?  Our  household  is  now 
very  small,  compact,  and  agreeable,  (at  least  I  think  so,)  and  we 
shall  stay  at  home  until  the  middle  of  April,  with  the  exception  of 
two  or  three  days  in  February,  that  I  must  spend  at  the  meeting  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  in  Carlisle.    So  come,  and  I  assure  you  I 


230 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


wont  run  away.  We  expect  to  break  up  our  housekeeping  here  by 
about  April  15,  and  shall  then  be  unsettled  until  after  the  session  of 
our  General  Conference  in  May.  If  they  re-elect  me  to  the  "  Quar- 
terly," I  shall  take  a  house  in  Newark,  Elizabethtown,  or  New 
Brunswick,  so  as  to  get  further  away  from  the  tumult  of  the  great 
Babel.  If  they  don't  re-elect  me,  I  shall  probably  settle  at  German- 
town,  or  some  other  village  adjacent  to  Philadelphia,  and  live  in 
quiet  as  long  as  God  spares  me,  writing  what  he  may  help  me  to 
write.    Either  prospect  is  agreeable. 

The  review  of  Positivism  in  the  pages  of  the  Quar- 
terly "  led  to  a  correspondence  with  M.  Comte,  and  a  call 
for  contributions  to  his  support,  which  was  cheerfully 
responded  to  by  Dr.  M'CHntock.  Two  of  the  philos- 
opher's letters  are  appended  to  this  chapter.  The  first 
was  published  by  M.  Comte  himself;  whether  the  second 
has  been  before  in  print  I  am  not  aware.  It  is  interest- 
ing as  presenting  his  own  account  of  his  philosophic 
education. 

LETTERS  FROM  JANUARY,  1847,  TO  APRIL,  1852. 

L  LETTEES  TO  DE.  M'CLINTOCK. 
L 

Paris,  7  Homer  ft4;  Wednesday,  Fehruary  4.  1852. 
To  Dr.  J.  M'Clixtock,  Editor  of  the  Methodist  Review,  New  York. 

Sir:  In  the  number  of  your  "Methodist  Quarterly"  for  January, 
1852,  which  I  received  last  Thursday,  I  have  just  read  a  conscientious 
review  of  my  principal  work,  written  by  an  eminent  adversary,  con- 
taining, indeed,  numerous  involuntary  mistakes,  which  are,  however, 
but  trifling,  and  may  therefore  be  spontaneously  corrected  hereafter. 
This  generous  proceeding,  to  which  I  have  been  but  little  accus- 
tomed from  the  French  press,  induces  me  to  extend,  even  to  such 
adversaries,  my  personal  appeal  to  the  western  public,  which  indeed 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


231 


merely  supplements  that  of  1848,  so  generously  referred  to  in  this 
memorable  article.  If  I  knew  the  anonymous  writer,  I  would  be 
happy  to  address  him  personally,  and  to  express  to  him  my  sincere 
gratitude.  But  I  trust,  sir,  that  you  will  kindly  be  my  interpreter, 
and  accept  for  yourself  also  one  of  the  inclosed  copies  of  my  circular 
letter.  I  cannot  but  congratulate  myself  upon  this  momentaiy  in- 
fraction of  the  happy  rule  of  mental  hygiene  which  for  many  years 
has  closed  to  me,  systematically,  all  papers  or  reviews,  even  scientific 
ones,  and  has  permitted  me  no  other  habitual  reading  than  that,  ever 
new,  of  the  true  masterpieces  of  western  poetry,  both  ancient  and 
modern. 

Public  morality  requires  now  that  this  desperate  call  of  undeserved 
distress  should  receive  a  fitting  response  from  the  other  side  of  the 
Atlantic,  the  better  to  stigmatize  both  the  persistent  lukewarmness 
of  most  of  my  friends  and  followers,  and  the  ignoble  zeal  of  my  aca- 
demic persecutors.  Besides  our  common  occidental  origin,  I  cannot 
look  upon  myself  as  an  absolute  stranger  to  a  republic  to  which  I 
came  near  transferring  my  then  opening  philosophical  career  in  1816, 
under  the  friendly  patronage  of  the  worthy  General  Bernard,  and 
even,  indirectly,  of  the  noble  President  Monroe.  However  that  may 
be,  my  present  communication  will  clearly  demonstrate  the  deplora- 
ble extremity  to  which  is  reduced,  in  the  very  midst  of  his  long  self- 
sacrifice,  one  who,  after  having  founded  the  Positive  Philosophy,  is 
now  erecting  upon  that  solid  basis,  and  in  greater  perfection  even 
than  he  promised,  as  stated  by  his  loyal  adversary,  the  religion  of 
humanity. 

In  order  to  convince  you,  sir,  concerning  the  full  continuity  of  a 
peaceful  activity,  which  must  appear  endangered  by  such  a  position 
as  the  present,  I  would  wish  to  send  you  at  once,  as  also  to  my  hon- 
orable anonymous  opponent,  the  first  volume  of  my  second  large 
work,  published  in  July,  1851  ;  a  work  which  I  promised  to  write 
when,  ten  years  ago,  I  completed  my  first.  This  "  Systeme  de 
Politique  Positive,"  as  stated  in  that  well-kept  promise,  will  consist 
of  four  volumes,  the  second  of  which  I  am  now  engaged  in  writing. 
It  will  probably  be  published  next  July,  and  the  other  two  succes- 


232  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

sively  at  the  same  time  in  the  two  years  following.  Should  you 
kindly  assist  my  unparalleled  inexperience  of  all  questions  of  detail  by 
informing  me  as  to  the  best  means  of  forwarding  these  things  to  you, 
you  would  soon  receive  the  two  copies  above  mentioned  of  the  first 
volume,  which  is  already  known  to  some  Americans. 

This  little  philosophical  gift  you  may  accept  without  scruple  as  a 
feeble  testimony  of  my  respect,  as  I  am  my  own  publisher,  and  can 
therefore  dispose  of  copies  as  I  choose.  In  the  mean  time,  I  enclose 
herewith,  together  with  my  circular  letter,  a  copy  of  the  "  Tableau 
Cerebral,"  which  sums  up  my  positivist  theory  of  human  nature,  and 
is  a  most  handy  synopsis  of  this  new  volume,  as  well  as  a  philosoph- 
ical programme  of  the  systematic  course  of  lectures  which  I  have  for 
the  last  three  years  delivered  before  a  private  society,  including  both 
sexes,  with  the  generous  sanction  of  the  only  government  which  has 
heretofore  respected  fully  the  intellectual  independence  which  I  have 
at  last  earned  by  ceaseless  sacrifices.  From  this  circumstance,  as  a 
philosopher,  you  will  be  able  to  understand  and  appreciate  the  com- 
forting fact  that  modern  civilization  can  radically  transform  even  the 
spirit  of  persecution,  which  is  now  limited  to  the  destruction  of  for- 
tune only,  being  unable  to  reach  life  or  even  freedom. 

After  a  long  and  honorable  career,  more  consistent,  perhaps,  than 
any  ever  before,  I  have  contracted  the  habit  of  living  altogether 
openly,  according  to  true  republican  principles.  If,  therefore,  you 
see  fit  to  disseminate  the  enclosed  circular,  or  even  this  letter,  I  leave 
the  matter  entirely  to  your  kindly  judgment,  whatever  publicity  you 
may  choose  to  give  it,  asking  only  that  it  be  literal  and  full.  I  would, 
however,  desire  that  you  should  first  consult  in  the  matter  that  emi- 
nent citizen  of  Philadelphia  who,  without  ceasing  to  be  my  worthy 
intellectual  disciple,  is  at  the  same  time  my  chief  temporal  patron, 
Mr.  Horace  Binney  Wallace,  who  is  too  well  known  to  need  any 
further  indication. 

Salut  et  Fraternity,  Auguste  Comte, 

lo  Rue  Monsieur  le  Prince. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


233 


II. 

Pabis,  24  Dante  64,  Suturday,  Aug.  7,  1S52. 

Dr.  J.  M'Clistock,  New  York. 

Sir  :  I  have  been  deeply  touched  by  the  worthy  enclosure  in  your 
letter  of  June  29,  received  July  15.  This  noble  participation  of  two 
eminent  philosophical  opponents  tends  to  characterize  more  fully  the 
true  nature  of  the  free  subsidy  which  is  to  shield  from  undeserved 
poverty  the  conscientious  thinker  whom  they  are  unwilling  to  com- 
bat otherwise  than  by  fair  arguments,  free  from  all  material  pressure 
either  active  or  passive.  However,  from,  the  true  religious  stand- 
point, where  love  is  higher  than  faith,  we  feel  that  a  certain  brother- 
hood unites  all  those  who,  at  this  time,  are  sincerely  striving  to 
overcome  intellectual  and  moral  anarchy,  whatever  may  be  the  op- 
position otherwise  existing  between  the  doctrines  they  hold  with  this 
great  common  aim. 

Apart  from  the  conflict  of  our  doctrines,  I  have  really  no  import- 
ant correction  to  ask  of  him,  except  in  regard  to  the  influence  he 
assigns  to  my  early  relations  with  M.  de  Saint  Simon,  who  was  in  no 
respect  either  my  teacher  or  my  precursor.  Mr.  Lewes  has  all  too 
carelessly  repeated  the  absurd  supposition,  put  forth  by  both  my  de- 
clared and  secret  enemies,  concerning  this  assumed  filiation.  It  is 
natural  that  Mr.  Holmes  should  accept  without  inquiry  a  supposi- 
tion thus  adopted  by  one  of  my  principal  followers.  I  will  therefore 
avail  myself  of  the  present  opportunity  to  elucidate  this  point  of  my 
history. 

Simple  comparison  between  our  doctrines  would  suffice  at  once  to 
demonstrate  the  fallacy  of  such  a  theory.  Had  Mr.  Lewes  made 
such  a  comparison,  instead  of  allowing  himself  to  echo  a  malignant 
falsehood,  he  would  have  discovered  that  Positivism  could  not,  even 
vaguely,  have  been  derived  from  Saint  Simon's  system.  Mr.  Mill, 
who  had  compared  them,  never  fell  into  this  superficial  error,  so  far 
as  I  know. 

In  the  place  of  this  absurd  origin,  which  I  have  steadily  disowned, 
I  trust  that  impartial  judges  will  henceforth  deem  it  their  duty  to 
declare  my  true  philosophical  filiation,  as  it  appears  both  from  the 


234 


LIFE  AXD  LETTERS  OF 


whole  of  my  works  and  from  my  own  statements.  I  have  always 
acknowledged  Condorcet  as  my  chief  direct  forerunner,  and  I  accept 
no  other.  Scientifically,  I  proceed  from  Bichat  and  from  Gall,  the 
last  scientific  thinkers  who  have  preceded  me  and  prepared  the  way. 
Philosophically,  I  proceed  indirectly  from  Hume,  and  incidentally 
from  Kant,  to  go  no  further.  But,  in  reality,  the  great  Condorcet  is 
the  thinker  I  have  most  properly  succeeded.  I  regret  having  placed 
him,  in  my  "  Positive  Philosophy,"  below  Montesquieu,  to  whom  he 
was  much  superior.  In  my  public  lectures  I  have  already  rectified 
this  mistake,  which  my  present  work  will  finally  correct.  In  that 
philosopher  we  find  the  true  connecting  link  between  the  eighteenth 
and  nineteenth  centuries.  He  was,  like  me,  thoroughly  prepared  by 
scientific  study,  although  the  sciences,  at  that  time,  were  not  suffi- 
ciently developed  to  regenerate  the  mind.  In  the  midst  of  the  most 
anti-historical  crisis  that  ever  can  exist,  he  attempted  to  base  politics 
on  histor}-.  I  early  felt  the  value  and  the  defects  of  that  effort,  the 
carrsing  out  of  which  I  considered,  at  eighteen,  as  the  chief  object 
of  my  life. 

Such,  then,  is  my  real  philosophical  descent  :  through  Condorcet 
I  belong  to  the  great  school  of  the  eighteenth  century — that  of  Did- 
erot. The  little  schools  of  Voltaire  and  Rousseau,  essentially  incon- 
sistent and  therefore  purely  negative,  are  now  absolutely  extinct, 
although  their  remains  are  still  agitating  the  undisciplined  mind  of 
the  West.  But  the  complete  and  organic  school,  the  school  of  Did- 
erot, Hume,  and  Condorcet,  sun  ives  in  me.  What  it  then  vaguely 
aimed  at  by  means  of  the  "  Encyclopedie,"  is  systematically  realized 
by  Positivism.  The  aim — absolute  regeneration — has  remained  the 
same  ;  the  means  only  have  developed.  None  of  my  contemporaries 
has  been  of  any  real  assistance  to  me  in  that  task.  The  nineteenth 
centur)-  offers  to  my  mind  truly  but  one  eminent  thinker — Joseph  de 
Maistre — and  to  him  I  always  did  full  justice  ;  but  from  the  first  I 
spontaneously  absorbed  all  that  his  works,  retrogressive  though  they 
be,  evolved  that  was  deep  and  lasting,  whether  against  the  dogmas 
of  the  Revolution,  or  for  the  historical  appreciation  of  the  Middle 
Ages.    If  his  v.ork  had  not  preceded  mine,  I  could  readily  have  dis- 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


pensed  with  it,  since,  before  I  saw  it,  I  had  in  my  own  way  produced 
essentially  an  equivalent  to  it  from  the  progressive  standpoint.  Still, 
after  Condorcet  and  Gall,  he  is  really  the  only  thinker  to  whom  I  am 
at  all  seriously  indebted. 

Before  I  received  your  letter  I  had  already  found  means  to  forward 
to  you,  at  last,  the  two  first  volumes  of  my  "Politique  Positive."  I 
delivered-  them,  for  you  and  Mr.  Holmes,  to  a  young  Frenchman 
who  is  going  to  settle  in  New  York.  But  I  shall  soon  avail  myself 
of  the  usual  means  to  transmit  to  you  the  important  essay  entitled 
"  Catechisme  Positiviste,"  which  I  am  now  writing  before  I  com- 
mence, next  November,  on  the  third  volume  of  my  "  Politique  Posi- 
tive," to  be  published  in  May  or  June,  1853. 

Salut  et  Fraternity,  Auguste  Comte, 

10  Rue  de  Seine. 

II.— LETTERS  FROM  DR.  M'CLINTOCK  TO  HIS  FRIENDS. 

I. 

Jersey  City,  Jane  9,  1S4S. 

On  my  way  from  Carlisle  yesterday,  (Thursday,)  I  received  the 
despatch  containing  the  mournful  news  of  your  and  our  loss.  Much 
as  I  had  expected  and  looked  for  it,  it  still  came  with  a  shock  upon 
me  from  which  it  was  hard  to  recover.  Yet  my  own  grief,  profound 
as  it  is,  at  thus  losing  my  long-tried  associate  and  friend,  sinks  into 
nothing  in  view  of  yours.  But  even  yours,  deep  and  poignant  as  it 
is  and  must  be,  is  full  of  rich  consolations,  toward  which,  I  trust  and 
hope,  you  are  able  to  turn  your  heart.  He  died,  as  you  would  have 
wished  him  to  die,  with  so  sweet  and  delightful  a  sense  of  his  Sav- 
iour's presence  that  it  was  merely  a  translation  for  him  from  one 
degree  of  communion  with  Christ  to  another.  How  truly  and  faith- 
fully he  lived,  and  how  Christ  honored  him  in  his  death  ! 

How  strange  it  is  that  we  feel,  on  the  death  of  our  friends,  almost 
as  if  we  were  not  to  die,  as  if  we  had  a  lease  of  life.  Yet  how  soon 
will  we  follow  them  !  Even  now  Emory  has  saluted  Caldwell,  and 
soon  both  of  them  will  salute  tis,  if  we  are  faithful  to  our  calling  as 
they  were.    The  world  seems  worthless  indeed,  in  view  of  these  ver- 


236 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


ities  ;  what  it  offers  seems  all  shadow  and  uncertainty,  in  comparison 
with  the  certainty  of  death,  and  of  the  life  beyond.  So,  when  my 
last  reached  you  your  dear  husband  was  gone  ! 

But  I  hardly  know  what  I  am  writing,  or  whether  what  I  write 
will  do  you  any  good.  Yet  I  know  it  will.  I  would  that  I  could  see 
you  in  this  hour  of  sadness  and  darkness.  Your  Saviour,  however, 
is  with  you.  He  will  one  day  clear  up  all  this  darkness,  and  banish 
all  this  sadness.  Within  that  blessed  home  of  the  just  all  is  light, 
and  peace,  and  joy  for  evermore. 

I  shall  leave  here  on  Monday  or  Tuesday  for  home.  Until  I  get 
there,  I  fear,  I  shall  not  hear  all  the  particulars  which  I  am  so  anx- 
ious to  learn.  God  will  bless  and  care  for  you,  I  am  sure ;  his  ten- 
der mercies  will  abundantly  abound  to  you  in  your  day  of  bereave- 
ment. He  can  comfort  you,  and  he  alone  can.  Return  soon  to 
your  Carlisle  home ;  it  will  be  better  for  you  and  for  Rosa.  God 
bless  you,  my  dear  friend,  and  be  assured  of  my  deepest  sympathy 
and  affection. 

Mrs.  E.  C.  Caldwell. 

II. 

ApHl  30, 1849. 

Are  you  at  work  yet  ?  Would  it  not  do  you  good  to  run  away  for 
a  little  while  ?  I  have  bought  a  house  in  Jersey  City,  and  shall  move 
into  it  in  a  day  or  two.  There  will  always  be  a  room  for  you.  Come 
and  stay  with  me  days  or  weeks.  It  will  do  you  good — I  know  it 
will  me. 

Our  April  "Review"  has  received  great  commendation  —  your 
articles  especially.  I  think  the  number  throughout  a  very  good  one. 
I  could  make  a  more  learned  journal  much  more  readily  with  the 
contributors  I  have  engaged — but  that  is  not  what  is  wanted. 

Eev.  T.  V.  Moore,  Richmond,  Va. 

III. 

New  Toek,  September  9,  1851. 

Few  things  in  the  course  of  my  life  have  so  much  affected  me  as 
the  death  of  your  husband  and  my  friend.  If  any  thing  could  add 
poignancy  to  such  a  grief,  it  is  that  I  was  far  away,  and  not  even 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


237 


cognizant  of  his  danger,  until  the  terrible  news  came  that  he  was 
dead.  How  quickly  would  I  have  obeyed  his  summons,  had  it  only 
reached  me  ! 

I  should  have  written  to  you  sooner,  but  I  could  never  bring  my- 
self to  do  it,  though  I  have  often  sat  down  for  the  purpose.  What 
words  to  use  I  could  not  find — words  that  should  express  my  own 
feelings,  and  that  should  be  fitting  words  to  say  to  you  at  such  a 
time — and  I  cannot  find  them  now.  I  cannot  yet  realize  his  loss.  I 
cannot  but  think  that  I  shall  look  again  into  those  benignant  eyes, 
and  hear  again  that  voice  which  I  never  heard  save  in  tones  of  ten- 
derness and  kindness. 

If  I  have  had  any  thing  to  be  proud  of  in  late  years,  it  was  in  that 
I  had  a  place  in  your  husband's  list  of  friends.  If  I  had  any  thing  to 
joy  in,  it  was  in  loving  discourse  with  him.  Ah  !  if  I  had  only 
known  how  soon  this  pride  and  joy  should  end — end,  I  mean,  for 
this  earthly  life — how  I  would  have  grasped  eagerly  at  every  oppor- 
tunity of  seeing  and  hearing  him. 

May  God  bless  you  and  your  boy  with  all  temporal  and  spiritual 
blessings  in  Christ  Jesus  ! 

Most  sincerely,  your  faithful  friend. 

Mrs.  Julia  M.  Olin. 

IV. 

Jersey  Citt,  December  20, 1851. 
It  would  have  been,  indeed,  a  great  inducement  to  go  to  Middle- 
town — the  thought  that  we  might  have  you  again  for  a  neighbor. 
But  there  were  other  reasons  why  I  should  have  been  glad  to  go : 
college  life  suits  my  tastes  and  habits  better  than  any  other ;  the 
work  is  just  the  kind  of  work  I  like ;  the  post  is  one  of  high  honor 
and  usefulness  ;  and  Vv^e  should  have  had  a  pleasant  and  fixed  home 
in  that  most  beautiful  city,  with  good  society  all  about  us.  But  in 
spite  of  all  these  attractions,  I  was  forced  at  last  to  come  to  the  con- 
clusion that  my  health  would  not  endure  the  work,  its  confinement, 
its  responsibilities,  etc.,  and  on  this  account  I  gave  it  up.  I  had  a 
letter  from  Professor  Allen  yesterday,  asking  me  if  I  would  not  con- 
sent to  take  the  presidency  at  Dickinson,  but  I  wrote  him  at  once 


238 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


that  I  could  not  think  of  it.  Indeed,  I  should  greatly  prefer  a  quiet 
home  in  some  country  village,  with  my  books  around  me,  to  any 
public  employment ;  but  the  Church  seems  to  want  me  in  my  pres- 
ent post,  and  I  can  do  the  work,  I  find,  without  injury  to  my  health. 
So  that,  as  long  as  the  Church  wishes  to  keep  me  here,  I  shall  re- 
main. 

We  shall  remain  in  our  present  abode  till  about  April  15,  when  we 
must  break  up  here.  We  expect  to  get  a  house  in  New  Brunswick, 
but  it  will  not  be  ready  for  us  until  August  or  September,  and  we 
shall  therefore  have  to  board  in  New  Brunswick  during  the  summer. 
Can't  you  come  to  see  us  before  we  break  up  ?  You  do  not  know 
how  much  pleasure  it  would  give  us  to  see  you. 

Mrs.  R.  C.  Caldwell. 

V. 

Jeeset  City,  Jpril  18, 1852. 

Will  you  come  to  see  us  ?  We  have  taken  a  snug  little  domicile  at 
New  Brunswick,  just  opposite  the  college  building,  which  you  may 
have  noticed  in  passing  to  New  York — ^just  three  hours  ride  from 
Philadelphia,  and  one  from  New  York — the  most  convenient  stop- 
ping-place in  the  world,  where  I  shall  be  delighted  to  see  you,  and 
Kate  will  be  delighted  to  see  /icr,  and  we  shall  do^/i  be  delighted  to 
see  you  do^/t.  So,  when  will  it  be  ?  and  when  shall  we  expect  you  ? 
Our  own  movements  are  planned  as  follows  :  we  remove  from  here 
to  New  Brunswick  the  week  before  the  first  of  May,  but  shall  not 
commence  housekeeping  at  that  time,  as  I  have  to  spend  the  month 
of  May  at  our  General  Conference  in  Boston,  and  we  shall  go  there, 
bag  and  baggage,  to  board  during  that  time.  Early  in  June  (D.  V.) 
we  shall  settle  ourselves  at  home  in  New  Brunswick,  and  be  ready 
and  glad  to  welcome  you  and  yours.  I  say  (D.  V.)  with  regard  to 
our  plans,  and  may  use  the  formula  with  special  propriety  just  now, 
for  my  little  darling  Augusta  lies  ill  of  a  fever,  and  her  continued  ill- 
ness may  disturb  all  our  arrangements. 

How  I  should  love  to  see  and  know  your  noble-minded  friends  ! 
These  things  give  us  some  conception  of  what  human  nature  might 
be — nay,  I  suppose  in  God's  mercy  these  higher  spirits  are  intended 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  239 

to  keep  our  hearts  from  sinking  utterly  as  we  see  more  and  more  of 
the  baseness  and  depravity  of  the  race  in  general.  Robert  Emory 
gave  me  a  higher  idea  of  the  capabilities  of  humanity  than  I  should 
ever  have  reached  without  some  such  visible  embodiment  of  the 
marvelous  power  of  goodness,  inwrought  by  the  Divine  Spirit,  in  this 
wretched  nature  of  ours.  You  are  a  happy  man,  with  such  friends 
and  such  prospects.  Forgive  me  for  saying  that  I  think  you  deserve 
them,  so  far  as  I  might  say  such  a  thing  truthfully  of  any  man.  That 
you  could  not  leave  Richmond  under  present  circumstances  I  can 
readily  imagine — that  you  ought  not,  I  am  about  as  well  satisfied. 
The  lines  have  indeed  "  fallen  unto  you  in  pleasant  places  ;  "  but  with 
love,  and  prayer,  and  faith,  that  need  not  be  a  snare.  Sometimes  I 
wonder  whether  it  is  right  for  us  to  enjoy  ourselves  so  much  in  this 
world,  so  full  of  woe  and  wickedness  as  it  is,  and  feel  as  if  Christ 
needs  us  to  disburden  ourselves,  and  gird  ourselves  like  Xavier,  to 
work  intensely  for  him,  and  then  die.  But,  after  all,  Christianity  is 
needed  for  salt  and  leaven  to  the  every-day  life  of  man,  and  unless 
our  whole  modern  system  of  society  is  false  and  rotten,  we  are  bound 
to  take  our  places  in  it,  and  Jielp,  so  far  as  He  may  give  us  power, 
to  purify  it.  My  own  physical  incapacity  is  often  a  sore  trial  to  me 
when  I  see  so  much  to  be  done,  and  feel  so  anxious  to  take  an  active 
part  in  the  fray — but  then  again  He  can  do  without  me,  or  can  use 
me,  weak  and  worthless  as  I  am,  and  I  am  content.  His  blessed 
will  be  done. 
Kev.  T.  Y.  Moore. 


240 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


CHAPTER  VII. 


1852-1857. 


Strong  Desire  of  Dr.  ^rClintock  for  Quiet  and  Eest— Removal  to  New  Brunswick,  and 
thence  to  Carlisle— Great  Enjoyment  of  his  Hural  Home— His  Manner  of  Life — Estimate  of 
Ck)ngreffationalism— Trip  to  Europe  in  the  Summer  of  1S54— Letters  to  his  Children— Com- 
plaints of  the  Abstruseness  of  the  Quarterly  Review  "-His  Replies— Reply  to  Joseph  R. 
Chandler  on  the  Temporal  Power  of  the  Pope— 0(Fered  the  Presidency  of  Troy  University 
— The  Methodist  Deputation  from  Ireland — General  Conference  of  1S56 — Excitement  in  the 
country  in  relation  to  Slavery — Effect  upon  the  Church— Dr.  M'Clintock  and  the  Baltimore 
Conference — His  Intended  New  "Chapter'"  on  Slavery — Close  of  his  Connection  with  the 
"  Quarterly  Ee\iew  — Letters. 


HE  longing  for  rest,  so  often  repeated  in  Dr.  M'Clin- 


tock's  correspondence,  appears,  at  first  sight,  incon- 
sistent with  his  eagerness  for  work.  His  character  had, 
in  this  respect,  two  sides,  as  is  perhaps  true  of  every  man 
of  energetic  temper.  To  have  a  hand  in  every  move- 
ment and  a  word  in  every  debate  was  as  natural  to  him 
as  to  breathe.  His  clear  insight  of  the  merits  of  public 
questions,  and  his  warm  interest  in  them,  gave  him  both 
reason  and  motive  for  the  expression  of  his  opinions. 
Yet  he  relished  equally  well  the  quiet  of  student  life. 
As  much  as  he  enjoyed  the  advantages  which  official  posi- 
tion brought  him,  he  chafed  under  its  burdens,  its  wear 
of  nerve  and  patience,  its  many,  and  to  him  profitless, 
details.  Then,  again,  his  method  of  work  necessitated  a 
frequent  abstinence  from  labor.  He  plunged  into  his 
h'terary  and  other  undertakings  with  an  eagerness  which 
before  long  exhausted  his  vital  force,  and  compelled  him 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  241 

to  desist.  His  friends  repeatedly  urged  him  to  spare 
himself,  and  to  moderate  his  excessive  industry.  You 
ought,"  wrote  Dr.  Olin  to  him,  in  all  good  conscience, 
to  be  in  bed  before  eleven  o'clock,  and  to  get  up  not 
later  than  six.  You  would  then,  I  think,  soon  be  well. 
Don't  work  too  hard.  Study  not  more  than  six  hours. 
It  will  make  you  wiser  than  your  generation,  which  you 
may  thus  live  to  serve.  Why  shouldest  thou  destroy 
thyself?" 

And  so  it  came,  from  the  frequent  reactions  which  set 
in  after  strenuous  exertion,  and  from  his  strong  love  of 
home  and  its  comforts,  that  during  all  his  years  there 
was  ever  before  his  imagination  the  vision  of  a  restful 
life,  free  from  all  public  responsibility  and  care.  Time 
and  again  he  tried  to  realize  his  ideal ;  succeeded  for  a 
short  period,  and  then  broke  up  his  quarters  to  accept 
official  position  again.  The  modest  home  which  he  oc- 
cupied during  his  first  residence  in  Carlisle  he  improved 
and  adorned  to  the  extent  of  his  means.  "  We  intend," 
he  wrote  to  his  wife's  brother,  in  1843,  "  to  make  divers 
improvements  and  alterations  for  the  increase  of  our 
comfort.  We  cut  a  door  through  the  parlor  into  the 
garden,  and  put  a  little  porch  and  arbor  there  for  sum- 
mer evenings  ;  we  put  a  paling  fence  in  front  of  the  side 
lot,  where  the  ugly  board  fence  now  is ;  and,  finally,  we 
erect  a  pretty  portico  at  the  front  door."  A  porch,  if  he 
could  so  have  it,  broad  and  long  enough  for  exercise,  and 
an  arbor  for  summer  evenings,  were  always  elements  of 
his  pictures  of  home. 

After  his  re-el  action  to  the  editorship  of  the  Quar- 
16 


242 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


terly  Review/'  in  1852,  he  removed  to  New  Brunswick, 
N.  J.,  in  order  to  escape  the  bustle  and  excitement  of 
the  city.  His  own  health  and  that  of  his  wife  being 
wretched  there,  he  removed  once  more,  in  the  spring  of 
1853,  to  Carlisle.  Here  he  purchased,  for  a  moderate 
price,  a  beautiful  house  on  the  edge  of  the  town,  with 
ample  spaces  in  front  and  rear.  A  wing  was  added  for  a 
library,  and  before  many  months  he  had  all  the  appoint- 
ments of  the  place  suitably  adjusted  for  the  life  of  an 
editor,  student,  and  amateur  cultivator  of  the  soil.  He 
did  not  need  ten  acres"  to  make  him  enough  ;  a  little 
more  than  one  amply  sufficed. 

Having  now  the  opportunity,  he  soon  gathered  about 
him,  and  at  no  excessive  cost,  the  elements  of  a  delight- 
ful home.  In  his  student  habits  here,  as  every-where, 
there  was  nothing  of  monastic  seclusion.  It  would  have 
been  impossible  for  him  to  shut  himself  up  in  his  library, 
and,  turning  the  key,  surrender  himself  in  solitude  to  his 
books  and  manuscripts.  The  library  was  the  centre  of 
the  house,  from  which  light  and  cheerfulness  radiated  in 
every  direction.  On  the  front  it  looked  out  through  the 
trees  upon  the  South  Mountain,  and  afforded  the  eye  in 
summer  a  soft  and  pleasing  landscape.  In  the  winter  an 
open  fire  burned  in  the  grate,  a  perpetual  invitation  to 
all  comers  to  gather  about  the  hearth-stone.  The  books 
filled  the  shelves  and  overflowed  upon  tables  and  chance 
resting-places.  They  were  well  arranged,  however,  yet 
not  set  up  in  stiff,  stately  rows,  as  if  forever  on  a  dress 
parade.  The  instinct  of  their  owner  brought  those  most 
required  well  about  him,  and  so  disposed  them  that  they 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  243 

were  suggestive  of  free  and  loving  companionship.  The 
fresh,  new  books — those  one  most  wanted  to  see — the 
magazines  in  their  earhest  fragrance,  and,  with  the  dew 
of  the  press  still  upon  them,  were  always  there.  Work 
was  with  Dr.  M'Clintock  eminently  social.  He  pre- 
ferred to  have  some  one  of  the  family  sitting  by  the 
fire  and  reading  while  he  wrote  at  his  desk.  If  that 
could  not  be,  he  would,  when  wearied,  take  a  few  min- 
utes for  a  chat  and  a  laugh,  and  then  return  to  his  tasks 
again. 

In  this  new  home  he  could  indulge  to  the  full  his  per- 
sonal tastes.  He  was  the  soul  of  hospitality,  and,  except 
when  sickness  forbade,  was  rarely  without  invited  guests. 
He  was  continually  planning  to  have  the  friends  whose 
companionship  he  enjoyed  to  visit  him,  and  in  his  fre- 
quent excursions  would  take  them  in  his  way,  and  renew 
his  personal  intercourse  with  them  at  their  homes.  His 
house  was  one  in  which  something  was  always  going  on, 
and  the  going  on  very  enjoyable.  He  made  it  a  point  of 
principle  to  shun  a  stupid,  humdrum  way  of  living,  and 
would  quote  Goethe's  counsel,  not  to  let  a  day  pass  with- 
out refreshing  one's  self  with  a  little  bit  of  poetry  or  a 
simple  song.  Wherever  he  might  be  he  attracted  society 
to  him.  Young  and  old,  the  well  read  and  the  scantily 
read,  alike  felt  the  power  of  his  geniality.  To  young 
persons  especially  he  was  very  delightful,  opening  in  their 
minds  a  new  sense  of  the  charm  of  learning,  and  giving 
them,  in  the  most  unaffected  manner,  valuable  hints  for 
the  carrying  forward  of  their  culture.  He  corresponded 
much  with  younger  men,  and  would  take  the  utmost 


244  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

pains  to  help  them  when  troubled  with  the  hard  ques- 
tions of  metaphysics  or  theology.  Correspondence  is 
with  some  scholars  a  laborious  duty,  at  best  an  interrup- 
tion of  their  cherished  occupations  ;  with  Dr.  M'Clintock 
it  was  one  of  the  chief  pleasures  of  life,  and  was  so  man- 
aged by  him  as  greatly  to  extend  his  influence  and  power 
as  a  public  man. 

In  the  by-play  which  he  provided  for  himself  in  this 
Carlisle  home,  he  was  as  enthusiastic  as  in  his  more  seri- 
ous pursuits.  His  chickens,  if  not  the  finest  the  sun 
ever  shone  upon,  were  at  least  extraordinary  chickens  ; 
his  horses  had  most,  if  not  all,  the  virtues  that  could  be 
engrafted  upon  horse  character.  His  delight  in  nature, 
and  in  the  creatures  that  serve  human  wants,  was  very 
beautiful.  It  was  a  thousand  pities  that  he  had  not  dur- 
ing all  his  working  years,  like  Arnold  of  Rugby,  a  quiet 
retreat  where  he  could  at  times  have  reheved  himself  of 
the  strain  of  labor,  and  found  rest  in  a  change  of  inter- 
ests and  cares. 

Left  to  himself,  and  without  out-door  occupations  to 
tempt  him  to  active  exercise.  Dr.  M'Clintock  was  too 
much  inclined  to  sedentary  habits.  He  took  little  pleas- 
ure in  bodily  activity  for  its  own  sake.  A  tramp  in  the 
nipping,  frosty  air — a  wrestle  with  the  driving  north-west 
wind,  or  a  mountain  climb — had  no  attractions  for  him. 
He  could  speak  very  prettily  of  "the  soughing"  of  the 
winds  of  the  valley  as  they  whirled  about  the  house, 
but  preferred  to  listen  to  it  from  the  inside,  with  his 
feet  well  up  to  the  fire.  In  the  earlier  years  of  his  Car- 
lisle life  he  did  something  at  gunning,  and  was  quite 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


245 


proud  of  his  practice  as  a  marksman ;  but  gave  it  up  in 
later  years.  Of  fishing  he  was  never  very  fond.  He  was, 
however,  a  capital  sailor,  and  on  the  sea  was  supremely 
happy.  The  ocean  air  was  for  him  the  best  of  tonics, 
and  relieved  him  at  once  of  his  bodily  ills.  But  he  could 
not  always  be  on  the  sea ;  there  remained  for  him,  there- 
fore, only  such  activities  as  grew  out  of  the  half-rural 
life  which  he  established  for  himself  during  his  second 
residence  in  Carlisle,  and  elsewhere. 

July  10, 1S52. 

My  New  Brunswick  home,  simple  as  it  is,  seems  very  pleasant  to 
me  on  my  first  return  to  it.  It  is  very  warm  out  of  doors,  but  the 
air  comes  cool  through  the  trees  into  the  windows  of  my  study. 
Kate  sits  near  me  on  one  side,  sewing  away  for  dear  hfe,  and 
Augusta  on  the  other  reading  Tom  Hood.  Am  I  not  happily  sur- 
rounded ?  I  wish  most  heartily  that  you  were  here  to  make  up  the 
quartette.  But  we  cannot  have  all  our  wishes  gratified  in  this  life  ; 
and  so  many  of  mine  are  filled  to  my  heart's  content,  that  I  should 
be  base  indeed  were  I  not  happy  and  at  ease.  And  so  I  thank  God 
continually  for 

"  Hope  and  health, 
For  peace  within  and  cahn  around, 
And  the  content,  surpassing  wealth," 

which  can  only  spring,  even  amid  the  most  propitious  worldly  cir- 
cumstances, from  right  relations  to  God  and  an  humble  trust  in 
Christ,  the  only  source  of  certain  happiness.  I  trust  that  you  are 
continually  drawing  fresh  supplies  of  joy  and  peace  and  comfort  from 
this  perennial  fountain  ;  that  your  Christian  life  is  growing  contin- 
ually, and  that  your  hold  upon  Christ  is  becoming  stronger  and 
stronger  all  the  time.  You  can  find  joy,  as  I  have  said,  nowhere 
else ;  but  when  you  have  this,  all  the  joys  and  pleasures  of  life 
are  transfigured  by  it  —  made  sweeter,  purer,  more  elevated,  and 
permanent. 


246 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


New  Beo'Swick,  Xot.  22,  1S52. 

I  didn't  go  to  the  Boston  wedding  because  I  could  not  get  away. 
Certainly  I  shall  not  go  to  Boston  without  running  out  to  Andover. 
if  it  be  only  for  an  hour,  unless  I  can't  help  myself.  I  have  not  left 
home  since  you  were  here,  except  spending  one  Sunday  in  New 
York,  where  I  had  to  preach,  and  one  night  in  Newark,  where  I 
gave  my  old  lecture  on  "  Truth." 

There  are  many  books  you  ought  to  read  with  Edwards,  Tappan, 
and  Bledsoe.  My  health  since  you  left  has  been  about  as  usual — 
admitting  of  about  half  work,  and  that  not  the  hardest  kind  of  work. 
I  don't  know  that  I  shall  ever  be  good  for  much  again ;  but  I  am  not 
at  all  disposed  to  repine.  I  am  thankful  for  a  multitude  of  blessings. 
We  have  nearly  decided  to  remove  to  Bergen  in  the  spring,  where  we 
are  building  two  cottages  together,  which,  if  I  go  there,  will  be  thrown 
into  one,  making  a  very  commodious  abode.  But  we  don't  drive  the 
pegs  ver)'  deep  in  fixing  our  plans,  for  they  are  liable  to  be  unsettled 
at  any  moment.  Indeed,  with  such  a  state  of  health  as  mine,  one 
does  not  feel  much  inclined  to  lay  plans  for  the  future,  anyhow. 

I  get  more  and  more  out  of  patience  with  Calvinism  every  day. 
Paul's  doctrine  of  grace  and  election  extends  the  sphere  of  Christ's 
love  as  much  as  possible  ;  Calvin  limits  it  as  much  as  possible. 
But  I  don't  want  to  write  or  think  about  this  matter.  Study  it 
just  as  much  as  you  please,  but  hold  fast  your  sound  faith,  and 
never  become  a  necessitarian. 

New  Bkttsswick,  Dec.  8, 1S52. 
"Literary  men  rarely  gladden  the  hearth-stone!"  My  doom  is 
settled  then,  and  I  am  not  among  the  class  of  "better  brothers,"  for 
a  gladder  hearth  circle  than  that  which  gathers  nightly  around  our 
coal-stove  (!)  in  the  front  parlor  it  would  be  hard  to  find.  There  is, 
first,  myself,  (I  put  the  aged  in  front,)  of  whom  I  will  say  nothing, 
for  you  will  have  it,  let  me  say  what  I  will,  that  I  am  sulky  and 
crabbed,  like  all  mere  book-worms.  Next  comes  Kate,  who  asserts 
roundly  that  you're  a  slanderer,  and  that  "  literary  men  "  can  glad- 
den the  hearth-stone.     Next  appears  Maggie,  my  youngest  sister, 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


247 


whom  you  would  like  exceedingly,  I  am  sure,  and  who  is  prepared  to 
like  you  wonderfully.  My  boy  comes  next  on  the  stage — a  noble 
little  fellow  of  twelve ;  but  the  charm  of  the  house  is  my  daughter 
Augusta,  of  eight,  a  veritable  little  angel.  Then  Kate  had  two  little 
ones  before  I  caught  her.  And  we  get  on  as  happily  as  the  day 
all  the  time. 

To  Moncure  D.  Conway,  at  Cambridge. 

New  Brunswick,  March  11,  lSo3. 

I  had  heard  of  your  going  to  Cambridge,  and  was  gladdened  by 
the  receipt  of  your  note  yesterday.  Believe  me  that  I  shall  always 
take  a  deep  interest  in  your  progress,  and  that  I  have  the  utmost 
confidence  in  your  integrity. 

You  camiot  "  be  secure  from  the  influences  of  men  in  pressing 
toward  a  firm  faith."  God  does  not  mean  that  we  should  be  thus 
independent  of  each  other.  The  longer  you  live,  the  truer  you  will 
find  this.  If  you  will  let  me  know  the  special  line  of  study  on  which 
you  propose  to  enter,  I  can  speak  more  confidently  about  books,  and 
will  gladly  say  any  thing  I  know  to  you. 

Carlisle,  Jant  22,  1S53. 

There  has  been,  and  is  yet,  a  vast  deal  of  out-door  work  to  do  in 
getting  the  place  in  order.  I  am  up  before  six,  and  do  as  much  out- 
door work  as  possible  before  the  heats  come  on.  Then  I  retire  into 
my  library,  which  is  entirely  sheltered  from  the  morning  sun,  and  if 
I  have  any  vim  left,  spend  it  at  work.  My  health  is  vastly  better 
than  it  was ;  indeed,  I  begun  to  think  my  head  very  nearly  well ;  but 
in  setting  up  my  books,  though  the  most  of  the  work  was  done  by 
Mr.  Stayman,  I  hurt  myself,  and  it  has  taken  me  ten  days  to  get 
over  it. 

To  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Mzlbtirn. 

August  9,  1851. 

In  May  we  moved  bag  and  baggage  to  Carlisle,  where  we  pur- 
chased the  house  formerly  occupied  by  Professor  Allen,  at  the  ex- 


248 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


treme  west  end.  We  have  a  very  commodious  home,  an  acre  of 
ground  finely  planted  with  shrubs  and  fruit-trees,  a  good  horse  and 
carriage,  a  very  milky  cow,  a  lot  of  immense  Bramah  fowls,  and,  to 
crown  all,  a  big  black-haired  baby  girl.  This  last  feature  is  about 
five  weeks  old,  and  does  credit  to  her  breeding,  as  all  young  babies 
in  some  strange  way  do.  I  spend  about  three  hours  a  day  in  my 
librar}%  the  rest  of  the  time  in  walking,  chatting,  riding,  working  in 
the  garden,  superintending  chickens,  etc. — all  which  avocations  are 
very  agreeable,  at  least  as  long  as  the  novelty  of  the  thing  lasts.  So 
you  see  we  are  almost  as  rural  as  you  are  yourselves.  Tell  your 
wife  that  chickens  worth  only  five  dollars  a  piece  are  no  fowls  at  all. 
I  have  a  rooster  and  four  hens  worth  one  hundred  and  twenty  dol- 
lars.   Poor  !    How  unhappy  she  must  be  with  such  little  bits 

of  fowls  ! 

To  Mrs.  R.  C.  Caldwell. 

May  14, 1S53. 

The  bell  is  just  ringing  for  afternoon  worship.  I  attended  this 
morning ;  once  a  day  is  as  often  as  I  can  go  to  church  with 
safety.  Yet  my  health  is  very  much  better  than  it  has  been  ;  indeed, 
better,  I  think,  than  it  has  been  for  five  years.  The  out-door  life  is 
ever)^  thing  for  me ;  and  I  have  far  greater  inducements  to  go  out 
now  than  I  have  ever  had  before.  I  am  becoming  quite  a  gardener, 
spending  two  hours  often  at  a  time  at  work  among  the  flowers  and 
vegetables.  Early  in  the  spring  I  could  only  stoop  a  little  at  a  time, 
and  then  it  caused  dizziness  ;  now  I  spend  any  length  of  time  at 
light  work  with  pleasure  and  profit.  Our  garden  is  in  good  trim — 
cherries  are  pretty  large,  strawberries  getting  form,  trees  all  clad  in 
the  fullest  leaf,  and  the  promise  of  a  rich  result  in  all  things.  Yet 
it  has  been  with  us,  as  wdth  you,  a  very  backward  spring.  The  bell 
has  ceased,  and  they  have  gone  into  chapel.  We  have  preaching 
there  twice  a  day.  I  wish  you  could  worship  with  us.  The  chapel 
is  newly  painted,  and  is  very  clean  and  sweet.  We  have  an  excel- 
lent choir,  and  a  very  fine  toned  melodeon  ;  and  we  sing  with  the 
spirit  and  the  understanding  also. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


249 


To  a  Divinity  Student  at  Andover. 

Januai-y  22,  1854. 

Congregationalism  offers  you  an  appearance  of  freedom  and  set- 
tled pastorate,  and  a  comfortable  support.  These  points  are  all  in 
its  favor.  But  it  has  so  many  disadvantages  that  I  think  nothing 
could  bring  me  to  throw  in  my  fortunes  with  it  but  a  necessity  of 
making  myself  comfortable  before  all  things.  Its  lack  of  organiza- 
tion, its  oyster-like  isolation,  its  incapacity  for  aggressive  movements, 
except  at  the  expense  of  its  fundamental  principle — all  these  are 
against  it.  It  is  at  best  a  provisional  and  transition  system,  fitted 
only  to  anarchical  times  and  ungovernable  men.  Utterly  unscien- 
tific in  its  form,  it  has  no  bottom  on  which  to  rest,  but  the  very  rest- 
lessness of  men's  minds.  Any  Church  which  has  even  an  attempt 
at  organization  is  for  me  to  be  preferred  to  this.  On  the  other 
hand,  it  is  a  great  attraction  to  Methodism  that  she  is  so  highly  or- 
ganized, and  therefore  so  vital.  Whether  her  organization  is  to  be 
permanent  is  a  question  ;  but  even  if  provisional,  it  is  a  step  toward 
the  Church  of  the  future.  A  Congregationalist  has  an  influence,  but 
a  perso7ial  one :  a  Methodist  minister  has  the  weight  of  the  whole 
body  to  sustain  him.  That  the  latter  is  a  more  Christian  idea  than 
the  former,  it  seems  to  me  no  one  can  read  the  New  Testament  and 
doubt.  But  to  particulars  as  touched  on  in  your  letter :  I  think  it 
certain  that  Methodism  will  adapt  herself  to  the  wants  of  the  times 
in  her  itinerancy,  etc.  Regarding  her  organism  as  a  living  one 
I  cannot  doubt  this.  But  it  is  clear  that  the  time  has  not  yet 
come. 

There  is  so  vast  a  field  for  itinerant  labors  in  the  territories  opening 
upon  us  in  the  West,  that  no  scheme  can  be  broached  yet  which  would 
even  tend  to  withdrav/  us  from  the  gigantic  work  to  which  the  age 
calls  us,  and  which  we  are  striving  with  no  small  success  to  perform. 
But  this  is  a  fast  age.  I  should  not  wonder  to  see  our  itinerancy 
modified  in  ten  years.  In  the  mean  time  we  are  doing  an  immense 
work  in  educating  our  people.  I  suppose  there  are  more  boys  and 
girls  in  Methodist  schools  in  America  than  in  those  of  any  other  de- 


250 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


nomination.  We  want,  and  shall  want,  capable  teachers  and  pro- 
fessors, editors,  etc. 

To  J.  aC.  Paris,  ,     _  ^  ^ 

June  28,  1854. 

We  are  to  be  drenched  with  Comte  here,  by  the  circulation  of 
Lewes's  Abstract  and  Miss  Martineau's  Version  of  the  Phil.  Positive. 
You  will  smile  and  sneer  when  I  tell  you  that  I  expect  to  see  you 
live  long  enough  to  recognize  a  world  of  philosophy  and  religion  be- 
yond Positivism.  It  is  too  intensely  subjective  a  system  (an  odd  and 
absurd  criticism  you  may  now  say)  to  hold  a  mind  like  yours.  And 
worse,  it  is  an  arbitrary  subjectivism,  voluntarily  restricting  human 
thought  to  the  little  world  of  man,  and  the  globe  he  inhabits.  Al- 
ready you  combine  with  it,  as  Comte  did  before  you,  a  metaphysical 
entity,  which  you  call  humanity ;  by  and  by  you  will  get  back  to  a 
theological  view  of  some  kind.  Endless  vibration — the  course  of  the 
individual  mind,  as  of  humanity.  It  was  Leibnitz  who  said  that  na- 
ture is  but  the  horologe  of  God. 

To  the  Rev.  Dr.  T.  O.  Siumners. 

March  10,  1S54. 

It  will  give  me  very  great  pleasure,  indeed,  to  receive  your  vol- 
umes ;  indeed,  I  think  you  to  blame  for  not  sending  them  sooner. 
There  is  no  reason  in  the  world  why  the  books  issued  from  your  end 
of  our  camp  should  be  kept  from  our  people.  But  we  seldom  see 
them  unless  we  send  an  order  and  buy  them,  which  is,  you  know, 
the  last  of  editorial  movements. 

Your  report  in  the  "  Southern  Christian  Advocate  "  gave  me  infi- 
nite gratification.  We  must  take  on  the  character  of  a  Church,  or 
we  shall  inevitably  go  to  pieces  in  a  generation  or  two.  No  church 
life  can  be  kept  up  without  baptism  and  its  necessary  results. 

In  the  summer  of  1854  our  friend  made  a  second 
voyage  to  Europe  in  search  of  health.  His  wife,  sister, 
and  brother-in-law  were  of  the  party.  The  trip  took 
in   England,  France,  Germany,  and  Switzerland  ;  by 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLIXTOCK. 


251 


September  the  travellers  returned  mended  up  and  in 
high  spirits. 

To  his  Son,  Emory  M' Clintock. 

STEAiizE  Asia,  Jane  22,  1S54. 

By  looking  at  the  map  you  will  see  exactly  where  we  are  just  now  ; 
but  as  I  have  not  any  child  at  hand  to  take  this  letter  to  the  post-office 
to-day,  it  will  have  to  wait  until  we  get  to  Liverpool  to  be  put  into 
the  mail.  We  have  had  thus  far  a  very  pleasant  passage,  too  pleas- 
ant, indeed,  at  first,  as  it  did  not  make  any  of  our  party  sea-sick  ; 
and  when  it  did  get  rough  we  were  all  too  good  sailors  to  be  affected 
by  it.  Mother  and  Atta  were  a  little  bit  qualmish,  but  that  was  all. 
To-day  the  swell  is  very  great,  and  the  ship  rocks  to  and  fro  like  a 
drunken  man  ;  but  the  ladies  are  on  deck  walking  about  and  enjoying 
the  fine  breeze  and  the  beautiful  sight  of  the  ocean.  It  is  not  easy  to 
write  in  such  a  commotion  as  this,  but  it  is  harder  still  to  shave. 
The  captain  and  officers  of  the  ship  have  been  perfectly  polite  and 
kind,  and  we  have  had  good,  solid  English  fare  all  the  way. 

Our  passengers  are  mostly  English,  Canadians,  and  Frenchmen— 
ver}-  few  Americans  among  them. 

To  his  Son,  Emory  Clintock. 

Paris,  July  5, 1354. 

I  have  wished  for  your  company  often  enough  since  we  left  home, 
but  I  suppose  you  would  have  enjoyed  yesterday  and  to-day  with  us 
as  much  as  any  we  have  had,  if  not  more.  We  left  Dieppe  at  half- 
past  seven  yesterday,  and  reached  Rouen  at  half-past  eight.  We 
visited  all  the  chief  places  of  interest  in  Rouen — the  Cathedral  of 
Notre  Dame,  St.  Ouen,  and  St.  Maclon.  These  are  all  very  old 
churches,  but  St.  Ouen  is  one  of  the  finest  specimens  of  Gothic  archi- 
tecture in  Europe.  The  interior  is  four  hundred  and  forty-three  feet 
long,  and  perfect  throughout,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  in  the  revo- 
lution of  '93  it  was  used  for  a  cavalry  barracks  and  for  a  blacksmith's 
forge,  the  marks  of  which  can  still  be  seen.  Adjoining  it  is  a  beau- 
tiful city  hall,  formerly  a  monastery,  with  a  beautiful  garden  ;  but 
Napoleon  turned  the  monks  out  and  made  the  house  into  a  town- 


252 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


hall,  and  gave  the  garden  to  the  public.  We  also  went  to  the  old 
palace  of  the  duke  of  Bedford,  where  Joan  of  Arc  was  tried,  and  saw 
the  very  spot  on  which  she  was  burned  to  death.  Altogether  Rouen 
is  one  of  the  most  curious  places  we  have  ever  seen.  Leaving  it  at 
two  o'clock  we  reached  Paris  at  five,  and  took  up  our  old  lodging  at 
Madame  Josephs.  But  I  must  now  stop  and  bid  you  good-by,  com- 
mending you  to  the  care  of  our  heavenly  Father. 

To  his  Datighier  Augusta. 

IIeidelbeeg,  Jidy  18,  1854. 

I  wrote  to  Emory  last  from  Frankfort,  and  hope  it  came  duly  to 
hand.  We  left  Frankfort  at  five  yesterday  afternoon  and  had  a 
lovely  ride  along  the  Bergstrasse  through  Darmstadt  to  this  beau- 
tiful town.  W^e  got  here  at  eight  o'clock,  tired  and  hungry  enough. 
We  ordered  tea  for  four,  and  they  soon  brought  us  a  lot  of  nice 
rolls  of  bread,  eggs,  hot  water,  and  tea.  Atta  made  the  tea,  as  she 
always  has  to  do.  They  bring  you  green  and  black  tea  in  canis- 
ters, and  a  bright  kettle  of  hot  water  with  a  lamp  under  it,  and  you 
make  the  tea  to  suit  yourself.  We  slept  very  soundly  and  had  a 
hearty  appetite  for  breakfast  at  half-past  eight  this  morning.  We 
then  had  a  nice  two-horse  carriage,  with  falling  top  (costs  fifty  cents 
an  hour)  for  us  four.  Our  carriage  took  us  through  the  beautiful 
town,  first  up  the  river  to  the  Wolfsh'imiteii,  four  miles. 

The  Wolfsbrunnen  is  a  fountain,  so  called  because,  according  to 
an  old  legend,  a  young  lady  was  once  torn  to  pieces  there  by  a  wolf. 
It  is  one  of  the  loveliest  spots  you  ever  saw.  They  have  several  little 
lakes  containing  trout,  and  when  visitors  go  they  throw  little  fishes  in 
for  the  trout  to  leap  at.  The  trout  are  very  large,  some  of  them  weigh- 
ing as  much  as  ten  pounds.  We  then  went  up  to  the  old  castle  of 
Heidelberg,  the  largest  ruined  castle  in  the  world,  and  formerly  one 
of  the  most  splendid  in  the  world,  also.  It  has  been  often  bombarded, 
but  its  final  fall  was  accomplished  in  i688,  by  the  French,  under 
Melac,  who  blew  up  the  strongest  towers  and  destroyed  the  whole 
castle  as  far  as  they  could.  One  of  the  walls  is  twenty  feet  thick, 
and  yet  they  blew  it  down.    We  bought  some  flowers  from  a  nice 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


*253 


little  girl  there ;  I  picked  a  good  many  more,  which  we  will  try  to 
press  and  bring  home  with  us.  It  was  high  time  for  dinner  when 
we  got  to  the  hotel.  The  courses  were,  i.  soup  ;  2.  boiled  beef; 
3.  fish ;  4.  roast  beef  with  potatoes  ;  5.  mutton  chops  with  cauli- 
flower ;  6.  pudding  cakes  ;  7.  veal  cutlet  with  beans  ;  8.  wild  turkey  ; 
9.  ducks  and  chickens,  with  apple  sauce ;  10.  cakes  of  various  kinds, 
with  confectionery;  11.  fruits;  and  some,  I  think,  I  have  left  out. 

This  is  the  kind  of  dinner  they  usually  give  at  a  German  hotel  for 
fifty  cents.  After  dinner  we  rested  about  an  hour,  and  then  Atta 
and  I  went  down  town  and  did  some  shopping  to  hunt  little  pictures 
of  Heidelberg,  which  we  found  very  nicely.  To-morrow  we  expect 
to  go  to  Stuttgart,  and  the  next  day  to  Munich,  if  mother  is  able  to 
travel  so  far  by  railway ;  if  not,  we  shall  stop  all  night  at  Augsburgh, 
or,  perhaps,  at  Ulm. 

To  his  Soft,  Emory  M'Clintock. 

LvcERUE,  July  so,  1854. 

We  spent  our  time  very  pleasantly  at  Munich,  though  the  weather 
was  very  hot — hot,  at  least,  for  this  country,  though  probably  not  so 
hot  as  you  have  had  it  at  home.  The  king  of  Wurtemberg  trod  upon 
our  heels  again,  as  he  came  to  our  hotel  (the  Golden  Lion)  and  stayed 
there  nearly  as  long  as  we  did.  We  had  a  very  fine  carriage  and 
horses  hired  on  Saturday,  but  he  had  the  impudence  to  hire  them 
for  every  day  after,  so  that  we  had  them  no  more.  We  visited  all  the 
principal  sights  of  Munich,  of  which  you  have  pictures  in  a  little  port- 
folio in  the  parlor,  and  you  can  look  them  over,  and  imagine  us  look- 
ing at  them.  We  left  Munich  on  Tuesday  25th,  and  reached  Augs- 
burgh in  four  hours.  There  we  stayed  again  at  the  "  Three  Moons," 
but  did  not  get  the  Napoleon  chamber  again,  as  it  was  taken.  But 
we  had  rooms,  each  of  which  was  nearly  as  large  as  the  college 
chapel. 

Next  morning  we  came  to  Lindau,  where  we  took  the  steamer 
for  Constance,  reaching  that  town  at  half-past  five  in  the  evening. 
There  we  saw  the  council  hall  in  which  the  Council  of  Constance 
sat  in  1414-18,  when  John  Huss  was  condemned.    We  also  visited 


254*  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

the  church  in  which  sentence  was  pronounced  on  him,  and  the  stone 
on  which  he  stood  to  be  sentenced,  the  cage  in  which  he  was  impris- 
oned, and  the  spot  outside  of  the  town  at  which  he  was  burned.  On 
the  whole,  it  was  one  of  the  most  interesting  spots  I  have  visited. 
On  the  next  day  we  came  in  a  carriage  to  Zurich,  a  verj^  delightful 
journey.  Here  we  engaged  two  carriages  for  the  journey  through 
Switzerland  at  twenty-five  francs  a  day  each  carriage.  We  left  Zu- 
rich at  eight  on  Friday,  and  stopped  at  Cappel  to  see  Zwingle's 
monument,  erected  on  the  very  spot  where  Zwingle  was  killed.  If 
you  don't  remember  the  history  of  Huss  and  of  Zwingle,  you  had 
better  read  it  up  in  the  little  Sunday-school  histories  of  them,  or  in 
the  "  Encyclopedia  Americana."  We  stopped  at  Goldau  to  dine,  and 
then  went  up  Mount  Righi.  All  of  us  were  on  horseback  except 
mother,  who  was  carried  up  by  four  men  in  a  big  chair.  Mag  and 
mother  went  down  the  mountain  in  the  same  way.  You  would  have 
laughed  to  see  them  carr>'  "  lady-to-London  "  fashion.  It  took  three 
hours  and  a  half  to  go  up  the  mountain,  and  two  and  a  half  to  come 
down,  and  very  tiresome  work  at  that. 

The  thoroughness  and  conscientiousness  of  his  editorial 
work  were  greatly  commended,  but  there  was  a  difference 
of  opinion  in  relation  to  his  theory  of  the  conduct  of  the 
^'  Review."   Correspondents  wrote  to  him  that  it  was  not 

popular  enough  ;  "  his  official  directors,  the  Book  Com- 
mittee, advised  him  that  it  was  ''not  sufficiently  adapted 
to  the  practical  and  utilitarian  tastes  of  the  people." 
They  requested  him  to  change  its  character  accordingly. 
To  all  such  objections  he  replied  invariably  that  he  was 
not  appointed  to  edit  a  magazine,  or  a  newspaper;  that 
it  was  his  duty  to  present  to  his  readers  a  sound  Chris- 
tian judgment  upon  the  life-questions  of  the  age  ;  and 
that  the  ''Quarterly"  had  a  distinct  work  before  it  as 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


•255 


an  educator,  especially  of  the  rising  ministry.  In  a  cir- 
cular which  he  sent  to  the  Conferences  in  1855,  he  said 
to  the  preachers  :  "  Were  my  judgment  convinced,  I 
should  at  once  alter  the  plan  on  which  I  have  heretofore 
conducted  the  'Review;'  cut  out  its  foreign  Literary  In- 
telligence, refuse  all  profound  discussions  of  metaphysical 
and  other  learned  subjects,  and  fill  it  with  biographical 
articles  and  papers  on  fugitive  topics.  Such  a  course 
would  save  me  much  expenditure  of  thought,  time,  and 
labor.  But  I  cannot  do  this  with  a  good  conscience." 
The  best  evidence  of  the  correctness  of  his  decision  is  to 
be  found  in  the  fact,  that  since  1856 — the  year  when  his 
editorship  closed — the  Quarterly"  has  been  conducted 
on  the  same  general  principles  which  he  conscientiously 
followed. 

To  a  Critic  of  the  "  Quarterly y 

Carlisle,  MayW.  1S51. 
I  thank  you  cordially  for  your  kind  expressions  with  regard  to  the 
"  Quarterly,"  and  lor  your  hints  in  regard  to  its  management.  You 
must  remember,  however,  that  if  you  have  no  metaphysical  turn, 
others  have,  and  that  I  must  meet  their  wants.  The  cultivated 
young  men  of  our  colleges  and  of  the  Church  will  meet  with  these 
new  forms  of  speculation  inevitably,  and  it  would  be  very  unwise  in 
us  to  ignore  them.  The  very  highest  commendations,  and  from  the 
highest  sources,  which  the  "  Review  "  has  received  under  my  man- 
agement, have  been  given  to  the  ver}'  articles  which  you  condemn. 

To  the  Rev.  Dr.  A.  A.  Lipscomb. 

Carlisle,  Oct.  5,  1S54. 
I  think  you  will  find  some  points  well  put  in  Mr.  Mercein's  book 
which  are  commonly  slurred  over.    The  Unitarian  \iew  of  human 
nature  is  held  unconsciously  by  many  non-Unitarians  who  cannot 


256  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

reconcile  the  doctrine  of  depravity  with  the  high  virtue  of  many  un- 
converted men.  Strong  and  dogmatic  assertions  wont  beat  down 
such  a  view  as  this.  The  novelty  and  excellence  of  Mr.  M.'s  book 
is,  that  it  shows  the  necessity  of  precisely  this  state  of  things  in 
order  to  give  probation  to  such  a  nature ;  and  that  the  natural  vir- 
tues and  culture  which  present  so  strong  an  objection  are,  in  fact, 
part  of  the  plan  of  redemption  to  reach  the  depraved  soul.  I  don't 
remember  to  have  seen  this  point  stated  and  maintained  elsewhere. 
I  have  ventured  to  call  your  attention  to  these  points,  as  I  would 
be  glad  to  have  the  book,  as  well  as  the  subject,  brought  strongly  to 
the  notice  of  our  preachers,  who  generally  need  to  be  led  off  in  judg- 
ing any  new  line  of  thinking. 

In  the  year  1855  the  question  of  the  papacy  and  mod- 
ern civilization  was  before  the  country,  the  question 
which  has  since  grown  to  be  the  most  important  of  our 
time.  It  was  not  so  well  understood  then  as  now.  Mr. 
Joseph  R.  Chandler,  one  of  the  representatives  in  Con- 
gress of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  delivered  a  speech  in 
which  he  denied  that  the  popes  have  claimed  authority 
over  civil  rulers  as  of  divine  right.  He  fell  into  the  error 
of  taking  the  Galilean  view  of  the  powers  of  the  papacy 
as  the  accepted  doctrine  of  the  Church.  Dr.  M'Clintock 
replied  to  him  in  a  spirited  letter,  published  in  the 
"  Evening  Bulletin  "  of  Philadelphia,  which  was  after- 
ward expanded  into  a  volume.  It  was  very  easy  for  him 
to  show  that  the  Ultramontane  theory  of  papal  power 
was  alone  recognized  in  Rome,  and  that  liberal  Catholi- 
cism had  no  standing  whatever  in  the  pope's  councils. 
Since  then  the  antagonism  between  Romanism  and 
the  modern  world  has  become  more  pronounced,  and 
the  famous  syllabus  of  errors  has  been  issued — a  no- 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  257 

tice  served  upon  the  nations  of  Christendom  that  no 
compromise  is  to  be  expected.  Here,  again,  Dr.  M'Qin- 
tock  led  the  way  as  pioneer  in  a  field  of  discussion  which 
has  now  many  occupants.  His  scholarly  exposition  of 
the  Ultramontane  theory  of  the  relations  of  the  Church 
to  the  State  is  just  as  available  for  use  in  the  great  con- 
troversy to-day  as  it  was  more  than  twenty  years  ago. 

In  the  same  year  Dr.  M'Clintock  was  elected  President 
of  Troy  University,  which  had  just  been  organized  by 
the  enterprising  Methodists  of  the  interior  of  the  State 
of  New  York.  In  reply  to  the  notice  of  election,  he 
wrote  to  the  Board  of  Trustees :  "  I  cannot  signify  an 
unconditional  acceptance.  The  state  of  my  health,  at 
present,  is  such  that  I  could  not  now  discharge  the  du- 
ties of  the  office,  and  I  would  not  do  either  the  Board 
or  myself  the  injustice  of  assuming  duties  so  important 
and  so  responsible  without  a  reasonable  prospect  of 
being  able  to  perform  them  faithfully."  He  continued 
his  connection  with  the  University  for  several  years,  but 
without  residence.  A  very  superior  Faculty  was  elected, 
and  some  good  educational  work  done,  but,  unfortunate- 
ly, its  friends  lost  heart,  and  the  fine  property  acquired 
passed  into  other  hands.  Dr.  M'Clintock  outlined  a 
very  attractive  plan  of  a  complete  university,  but  to 
achieve  it  demanded  time,  money,  and  the  consecration 
of  some  one  man's  life  to  the  task.  He  was  neither 
young  enough,  nor  strong  enough,  nor  free  enough 
from  the  claims  of  other  undertakings  to  permit  such  a 
consecration. 

He  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  success  of  the  Irish 
17 


35S  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

Methodist  deputation  which  was  first  sent,  in  1855,  to 
the  United  States.  The  deputation  had  for  its  object 
the  securing  of  aid,  especially  from  Irish  Methodists  in 
America,  for  the  building  and  endowment  of  the  Wes- 
leyan  College  at  Belfast.  Dr.  M'Clintock's  attachment 
to  Ireland  was  very  strong.  It  was  the  home  of  his 
father  and  mother,  which  alone  was  enough  to  make  the 
ever-green  isle  "  dear  to  him.  But  he  had  strongly 
developed  in  himself  many  of  the  finest  traits  of  the  race 
from  which  he  was  descended — its  warmth  and  steadfast- 
ness of  affection,  its  keen  interest  in  life,  and  capacity  to 
enjoy  life  under  all  circumstances.  He  loved  Irish  Meth- 
odism very  tenderly ;  his  efforts  to  promote  the  objects 
of  the  deputation  knew  no  limit  but  the  limits  of  his 
strength.  With  its  two  members,  the  Rev.  William  Ar- 
thur and  the  Rev.  Robinson  Scott,  he  kept  up  a  frequent 
correspondence  in  after  years.  Mr.  Arthur  was,  during 
our  civil  war,  his  faithful  colaborer  in  spreading  through 
England  right  views  of  the  nature  of  our  controversy 
with  the  South. 

To  the  Rev.  William  Arthur. 

Carlisle,  Sept.  25,  1855. 

It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  good  foundations  should  be 
laid  in  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  and  New  York,  as,  after  all,  what- 
ever is  done  elsewhere  will  be  trifling  to  what  can  be  done  in  those 
great  cities.  Pittsburgh  should  not  be  neglected.  And  why  can  you 
not,  in  returning  from  Pittsburgh,  stop  here  }  It  is  on  the  way  to 
■Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  and  I  am  sure  I  can  serve  your  mission 
if  I  can  get  the  opportunity  of  a  talk  with  you  about  your  plans. 

Where  shall  the  Baltimore  people  find  you  ?  You  should  fix  on 
some  head-quarters,  to  which  communications  could  be  addressed, 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  259 

and  where  you  could  always  be  got  at,  indirectly  at  least.  The 
Book  Room,  200  Mulberry-street,  New  York,  would  probably  be 
the  best  place. 

The  General  Conference  of  1856  met  in  a  memorable 
year.  It  was,  as  usual,  the  year  of  the  presidential  elec- 
tion, but  this  election  was  the  first  in  which  the  issues 
between  the  North  and  the  South  were  directly  drawn. 
The  attempt  to  establish  the  slave  system  in  Kansas,  as 
a  part  of  a  general  extension  of  slavery  over  new  terri- 
tory, had  roused  a  spirit  of  determined  resistance.  In 
the  feeling  which  pervaded  the  free  States  Dr.  M'Qin- 
tock  shared  very  fully.  He  detested  slavery,  and  had 
risked  honor  and  property  in  helping  the  slave.  At 
every  fit  opportunity,  public  and  private,  he  denounced 
the  iniquitous  proceedings  of  the  pro-slavery  party.  He 
believed,  however,  that  the  Methodist  ministers  and  peo- 
pie  in  the  slave  States,  who  had  adhered  to  our  Church  at 
the  time  of  the  disruption  in  1844,  were  entitled  to  tender 
consideration.  In  making  their  election  between  North 
and  South  they  had  resisted  strong  local  influences,  and 
had  proved  their  fidelity  to  ancient  Methodist  traditions. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  excitement  which  pervaded  the 
nation  affected  the  Church — and  Methodism  is,  of  all 
religious  organizations,  the  quickest  to  be  moved  by  the 
surges  .of  popular  feeling.  There  was  a  demand  that 
the  Church  should  be  put  in  a  more  decided  anti-slav- 
ery position,  and  this  could  be  effected  only  by  a  rule 
forbidding  all  slaveholding.  Such  a  rule  was,  in  process 
of  time,  inevitable ;  but  Dr.  M'Clintock  was  of  the  opin- 
ion that  in  a  few  years  the  ivhole  Church  would  be 


26o 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


ripened  for  advanced  legislation  by  the  natural  processes 
of  its  growth. 

The  General  Conference  of  this  year  was,  therefere,  un- 
der a  pressure  from  two  opposite  sides.  On  the  one  side 
old  affections,  and  the  consideration  due  to  a  long  record 
of  fidelity,  pleaded  for  forbearance  ;  on  the  other,  the  de- 
mand that  the  Church  should  stand  before  the  world  more 
avowedly  as  an  antislavery  Church,  pleaded  for  instant  ac- 
tion. It  was  felt  on  every  hand  that  the  whole  mass  and 
weight  of  this  great  body  must  be  hurled  against  slavery, 
but  the  best  measures  for  the  hour  were  questions  of  ex- 
pediency on  which  honest  men  might  differ.  It  was  the 
purpose  of  Dr.  M'Clintock  to  offer  a  draft  of  a  "  New 
Chapter"  on  slavery,  declaring  that  the  ''general  rule" 
forbade  the  buying  and  selling  of  slaves,  and  was  in  its 
spirit  opposed  to  slaveholding,  and  calling  on  the  Con- 
ferences to  inform  the  people  accordingly.  It  would  have 
served,  had  it  carried,  as  a  ''notice  to  leave"  for  Method- 
ists who  preferred  slavery  to  the  Church,  and  would  have 
prepared  all  parties,  he  thought,  for  further  action  four 
years  later.  It  cannot  be  said  that  this  was  unwise 
statesmanship.  Appearing  in  the  debate  at  a  late  hour, 
when  the  wish  to  vote  had  reached  the  point  of  extreme 
impatience,  he  was  cut  off  before  he  could  open  the  way 
for  offering  his  resolution. 

With  this  Conference  Dr.  M'Clintock's  connection  with 
the  "Quarterly  Review"  closed.  The  Rev.  Dr.  D.  D. 
Whedon  was  elected  his  successor. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


261 


LETTERS. 
I. 

New  York,  June  15,  1856. 

It  is  a  beautiful  Sunday  morning,  and  I  trust  you  are  able  to  enjoy 
it.  I  had  two  committees  up  yesterday  to  ask  me  to  take  churches. 
One,  in  Brooklyn,  offers  me  $1,800  a  year,  and  they  will  employ  a 
young-  man  to  do  all  the  work  I  cannot  do.  If  it  were  in  New  York 
I  would  take  it,  but  I  do  not  want  to  live  in  Brooklyn.  Mr.  Harper 
offers  me  the  post  of  literary  manager  of  their  publications,  but  I 
hardly  feel  willing  to  do  that  as  yet.  They  will  give  me  $1,000  a  year 
to  preach  one  sermon,  and  have  no  responsibility,  at  the  new  church 
in  Twenty-second-street ;  and  then  Harpers  will  pay  me  for  reading 
for  them,  and  I  rather  think  that  is  what  I  will  agree  to.  But  I  shall 
not  decide  in  haste.  I  am  to  preach  this  afternoon  and  will  therefore 
stop  writing  now. 

Monday  inorm'ng. — No  time  to  write,  except  to  say  that  I  am  very 
well ;  preached  to  an  immense  audience.    Church  in  Brooklyn  offers 
me  $1,800,  a  house,  and  a  horse  and  carriage.    No  decision  yet. 
Mrs,  Catharine  W.  M'Clintook. 

II. 

Philadelphia,  September  24, 1856. 

My  head  has  been  worse  since  my  return  home,  and  I  am  hardly 
fit  to  do  any  thing  at  all  but  talk  and  walk  the  streets.  I  don't  ex- 
pect to  be  able  to  work  for  a  month.    It  is  a  bad  look-out  for  me. 

Your  letter  was  very  gratifying  indeed.  Did  you  receive  mine  from 
Jersey  City.?  (i.)  Don't  go  to  Freemont  meetings  foo  often,  or  neg- 
lect any  study  that  should  be  done  at  night.  (2.)  I  hope  you  have 
not  missed  prayers,  or  any  other  duty,  since  you  have  been  at  Yale. 
Such  punctuality  tells  not  only  on  your  reputation,  but  also  on  your 
character.  If  you  stick  to  this,  and  then  master  every  lesson  thor- 
oughly, your  way  is  clear.  I  should  be  glad  to  see  Pennsylvania  win 
the  field  there  through  you.  I  hope  you  make  yourself  both  agree- 
able and  useful  to  Mrs.  Daggett.    (3.)  Tell  me  whether  you  have 


262 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


any  trouble  about  your  pronunciation  of  Greek  and  Latin — whether 
it  makes  any  difference. 

Revolutions  are  generally  the  result  rather  of  undue  conservatism 
on  the  part  of  statesmen  than  of  any  or  all  other  causes.  Take  this 
for  your  text,  and  illustrate  it  by  examples  from  history.  By  conserv- 
atism I  mean  sticking  to  old  usages,  ideas,  and  laws  when  it  is  time 
to  change  them  ;  or,  as  Carlyle  says,  trying  to  wear  the  old  breeches 
after  they  have  become  too  small. 
Mr.  Emobt  M'Clintock,  New  Haven. 

in. 

Philadelphia,  October  26, 1856. 

I  am  glad  to  find  that  you  are  getting  on  well  with  your  studies. 
Don't  forget  my  advice  to  you  about  minute  accuracy  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  each  lesson,  and  sboui  punctual  attendance  on  every  college 
duty.    With  your  advantages  you  ought  to  take  some  of  the  prizes, 
and  I  think  you  can  do  it. 

But  the  greatest  prize  of  all  is  that  of  a  conscience  void  of  offence 
toward  God  and  man.  Keep  truth  and  honor  in  all  your  relations  to 
your  fellow-students.  No  morality  remains  when  truthfulness  is 
gone.  Cherish  truth  in  the  smallest  statements  as  well  as  in  the 
greatest  and  most  important.    Acknowledge  God  in  all  your  ways. 

I  am  not  sorry  to  find  you  concerned  about  the  election.  I  feel  the 
same  interest,  because  of  the  great  moral  question  that  is  at  stake. 
Every  man,  it  seems  to  me,  of  pure  and  noble  instincts,  must  now 
be  prepared  to  take  the  side  of  civilization  against  barbarism,  of 
liberty  against  slavery.  The  struggle  may  go  on  for  many  years : 
I  hope  you  and  I  may  both  live  to  do  our  duty  in  it  hke  men  and 
Christians. 

If  Judge  M'Lean  had  been  nominated  we  should  have  carried  him 
in  easily,  now  it  will  be  a  very  hard  fight.   Buchanan  promises  to  be 
very  fair  if  elected  ;  perhaps  he  will,  but  if  he  is,  the  South  will  try 
to  get  up  a  revolution.    God  bless  you,  my  dear  boy  ! 
Mr.  Emoey  M'Clintock,  New  Haven. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


263 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


1 85  7-1 860. 


Dr.  M'Clintock  as  an  Orator— Appointed  to  the  Pastorate  of  St  Paurs  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  New  York — Great  Success  in  this  Position — Visits  England  in  1S57,  with 
Bishop  Simpson,  as  Delegate  to  the  Wesle}'an  Conference  and  to  the  Evangelical  Alliance— 
Public  Reception  at  the  Wesleyan  Mission-House — Reception  at  Belfast — Kiiidnoss  of  his 
Irish  Friends — Reception  of  the  Members  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance  by  the  King  of 
Prussia — The  King's  Attendance  upon  tlie  Sessions  of  the  Alliance — Entertainment  of 
Americans  in  Berlin  by  Governor  Wright— Work  upon  the  Cyclopaedia  by  Dr.  M'Clintoek 
—His  many  Plans  for  Literary  Work — Effect  of  Continued  Ill-health  in  Hindering  their 
Execution. 


E  have  come  to  the  period  of  Dr.  M'Clintock's 


^  ^  life  when  he  attained  to  the  fulness  of  his  power. 
His  careful  culture  had  ripened  his  mind  ;  travel  had 
added  to  the  stores  of  his  information  ;  his  well-defined 
opinions  had  been  tested  by  a  large  experience  of  life ; 
and  he  now  reached  a  position  where  all  his  resources 
as  a  scholar  and  orator  could  be  best  used  for  the  benefit 
of  his  fellow  men.  Though  his  aptitudes  were  so  vari- 
ous, he  had  always  regarded  preaching  as  his  true  voca- 
tion, and  the  kingdom  of  Christ  as  the  one  interest  to 
the  advancement  of  which  all  his  faculties  were  pledged. 
He  might  and  did  enjoy  the  satisfaction  which  a  well- 
won  reputation  naturally  gives,  but  self-regarding  mo- 
tives were  kept  by  him  in  subordination  to  the  one  con- 
straining impulse  —  the  love  of  his  Lord  and  Saviour, 
Jesus  Christ.     He  had  consecrated  himself  to  him  to 


264 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


whom  he  owed  all  that  he  was  with  an  entireness  which 
admitted  of  no  divided  allegiance. 

That  so  few  of  his  working  years  had  been  spent 
in  the  pastorate  was  due  partly  to  the  fact  that  the 
Church  had  called  him  to  other  duties,  partly  to  the  fact 
that  he  was  disabled  by  a  frequently-recurring  affection 
of  the  throat,  and  in  part  to  the  fear  that  full  pastoral 
service  would  be  too  much  for  his  strength.  He  had, 
too,  the  student's  instinctive  dread  of  the  much  moving 
to  and  fro  which  is  a  necessary  incident  of  the  Method- 
ist pastorate ;  he  loved  fixed  relations,  as  most  favorable 
to  culture,  and  planned  to  give  himself  all  possible  ad- 
vantage in  carrying  forward  his  literary  pursuits.  In 
spite  of  his  plans,  however,  he  made  an  itinerancy  of  his 
own,  and  wandered  up  and  down  the  world  enough  to 
satisfy  the  utmost  demands  that  could  have  been  made 
upon  him  by  John  Wesley  himself.  But  whatever  his 
feelings  in  this  regard,  they  were  controlled  by  his  sense 
of  his  duty  as  a  Methodist  minister;  he  loyally  accepted 
the  itinerancy,  and  obeyed  its  requisitions  whenever  they 
were  laid  upon  him. 

He  had  a  large  endowment  of  the  oratorical  tempera- 
ment. The  art  which  is  instinctive  with  the  true  orator, 
of  magnifying  the  subject  of  present  interest  until  it  fills 
his  own  and  his  hearers'  thoughts,  he  possessed  in  its 
perfection.  I  have  already  spoken  of  his  winning  pres- 
ence and  graceful  action  ;  but  besides  these  he  was  mas- 
ter of  all  the  other  resources  of  power  which  an  orator 
covets.  A  flow  of  speech  marvellous  for  its  accuracy  and 
finish,  readiness  in  the  use  of  his  stores  of  information, 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  265 

sensibility  and  the  power  to  kindle  sensibility  in  others 
— all  were  his.  He  was  for  many  years,  however,  up 
to  the  period  on  which  we  now  enter,  only  an  occa- 
sional preacher.  He  had  not,  except  for  a  brief  season 
when  a  young  man,  enjoyed  the  capital  advantage  of 
addressing  a  congregation  of  worshippers  who  looked 
chiefly  to  him  for  guidance,  and  whose  cares,  griefs,  and 
frailties  were  to  lie  as  a  burden  upon  his  heart.  In  as- 
suming the  pastorate  of  St.  Paul's  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  New  York,  Dr.  M'Clintock  entered  more  fully 
into  the  work  of  the  Christian  ministry ;  and  the  drafts 
made  by  his  position  upon  his  mind  and  heart  were  met 
by  exhibitions  of  eloquence  which  brought  him  at  once 
a  national  fame. 

He  was  an  orator,  indeed,  but  he  was  more.  He  was 
a  student,  and  had  the  student's  preference  for  slow  elab- 
oration of  opinion,  precision  of  statement,  and  rigorous 
limitation  of  feeling  to  the  just  demands  of  the  subject 
in  hand.  He  had  his  full  share  of  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
closet,  which  is  kindled  by  long  trains  of  reflection,  and 
is  often  suspicious  of  the  quicker  and  shallower  enthusi- 
asm by  which  masses  of  men  are  swayed.  In  Dr.  M'Clin- 
tock the  student  may  have  for  a  time  held  the  orator  in 
check,  and  delayed  the  perfect  flowering  of  his  oratorical 
genius.  During  all  the  years  over  which  we  have  passed 
his  power  as  a  public  speaker  was  ripening  with  the 
general  ripening  of  his  mind.  In  the  period  from  1856 
to  i860  his  logic  and  the  great  resources  of  his  learning 
appeared  to  be  fused  in  the  fire  of  his  feeling,  and  to 
give  him  consummate  power  in  the  persuasion  of  men. 


266 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


The  adv^antages  of  his  position  were  very  great.  The 
Mulberr>-street  congregation,  out  of  which  St.  Paul's 
Church  was  formed,  was  made  up  of  choice  elements.  To 
it  were  added  other  members  of  high  intelligence,  chief- 
ly from  down-town  Methodist  churches,  who  had  been 
carried  to  the  vicinity  of  St.  Paul's  by  the  upward  move- 
ment of  the  city's  population.  He  was  in  the  midst  of 
friends,  many  of  them  friends  of  his  youth,  who  had  fol- 
lowed his  career  with  affection  and  pride.  Some  of  them 
had  known  him  as  the  ruddy  boy-clerk  in  the  Methodist 
Book  Room.  He  was  now  among  them  again,  a  strong, 
matured  man,  tested  and  proved  in  long  years  of  public 
life,  loved  as  it  is  the  lot  of  few  men  to  be  loved,  and  as 
genial  and  as  affectionate  as  in  his  early  days.  The 
Church  was  welded  into  unity  by  the  necessities  of  an 
important  enterprise,  and  by  the  consciousness  of  its 
growing  power.  From  the  laying  of  its  foundation-stone 
to  the  completion  of  its  chaste  edifice  its  history  was  a 
record  of  successes.  Crowds  thronged  to  attend  the 
ministrations  of  the  eloquent  pastor,  and  the  congrega- 
tion committed  to  his  care  speedily  took  rank  as  one  of 
the  foremost  of  New  York  in  advancing  the  interests 
of  the  kingdom  of  Christ. 

These  were  happy  years  for  Dr.  M'Clintock.  With  con- 
siderate thoughtfulness  his  people  provided  him  with 
an  assistant,  who  relieved  him  of  many  of  the  details 
of  his  duty,  and  divided  the  Sunday  work  with  him.  His 
preaching  here,  as  all  through  his  ministry,  was  eminently 
scriptural.    He  fed  his  people,  as  Jeremy  Taylor  exhorts, 

not  with  husks  and  draff,  with  colocynths  and  gourds. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK, 


267 


with  gay  tulips  and  useless  daffodils,  but  with  the  bread 
of  life."  He  heeded  Jeremy  Taylor's  counsel  in  another 
particular  also,  "  not  to  let  discourses  to  the  people  be 
busy  arguings  about  hard  places  of  Scripture."  Dr. 
M'Clintock  was  too  much  in  earnest  for  curious  preach- 
ing, or  showy  preaching,  or  contentious  preaching,  or  any 
preaching  that  did  not  set  forth  Christ  crucified  as  ^'  first, 
last,  and  without  end."  His  message  was  delivered  in 
simplicity"  as  well  as  "in  godly  sincerity." 

The  General  Conference  of  1856  had  appointed  Bishop 
Simpson  and  our  friend  delegates  to  the  British  Wesley- 
an  Conference.  The  two  delegates  spent  the  summer 
of  1857  England  and  on  the  continent;  Mr.  Milburn, 
the  blind  preacher,  accompanied  them,  as  also  did  Mrs. 
M'Clintock  and  quite  a  party  of  friends.  Dr.  M'Clintock 
and  Bishop  Simpson  were  also  delegates  to  the  Confer- 
ence of  the  Evangelical  Alliance,  which  met  in  Berlin 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  summer.  It  was  not  till  after 
the  return  from  this  trip  that  the  former  entered  upon 
the  pastoral  charge  of  St.  Paul's.  His  record  of  this 
summer's  travel  is  full  of  variety  and  incident. 

Steamer  Ericsson,  Thursday,  May  21, 1857. 
We  have  had  a  most  delightful  passage,  winds  and  seas  favorable 
throughout — just  enough  storm  once  or  twice  to  give  the  novices  an 
idea  of  what  the  sea  can  do.  It  is  too  rough  now  to  write  with  com- 
fort, as  you  may  see  by  the  shaky  looks  of  the  writing ;  but  the  sky 
is  bright,  and  the  air  delicious.  Kate  has  not  been  sea-sick  more 
than  half  an  hour ;  I  not  at  all ;  Emory  a  little  for  two  or  three  days  ; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marshall  and  Miss  Cameron  have  had  the  most  of  it  ; 
they  have  kept  their  berths  nearly  all  the  time,  and  have  disdained 
the  humble  food  on  which  the  rest  of  us  feast  daily  with  so  much 


2C8 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


delight.  They  nibble  crackers,  and  chew  dry  toast,  and  mumble 
smoked  beef.  Mr.  Milburn  has  been  full  of  fun,  anecdote,  and  poe- 
try, and  you  have  rarely  seen  a  pleasanter  party  than  we  form  around 
the  cabin  fire  at  night,  telling  stories,  playing  charades,  proverbs,  and 
such  like  amusements  suited  to  our  age  and  capacity. 

An  unusual  thing  on  board  a  steamer  is,  that  we  have  prayer  every 
night  at  nine  o'clock.  First  only  one  besides  our  party  attended,  with 
the  Captain  and  Mrs.  Lowber ;  then  one  by  one  dropped  in,  till  now 
we  have  nearly  all  the  cabin  passengers.  Among  them  are  an  Irish 
lady  and  her  niece,  Roman  Catholics,  and  they  kneel  down  as  deco- 
rously as  any  Methodist  among  us.  So  does  the  surgeon  of  the  ship, 
who  is  also  a  Roman  Catholic.  Captain  Lowber  has  been  every 
thing  that  we  expected,  and  a  great  deal  more.  To  tell  the  truth, 
the  whole  ship  has  been  put  at  our  disposal.  I  had  nearly  forgot  my 
throat.  Well,  I  ate  some  cakes  out  of  the  box  for  my  lunch  the  first 
day,  and  that  was  the  last  meal  at  which  I  appealed  to  them.  I  have 
nice  corn  cakes  and  honey  for  breakfast  every  morning,  but  along 
with  them  I  eat  bread  and  salmon,  or  any  thing  else  I  please.  It  is 
astonishing  the  effect  sea  air  always  has  on  me.  I  can  sing  at  night 
without  its  hurting  me,  and  I  think  I  shall  be  able  to  preach  when  I 
get  to  the  Irish  Conference.    At  all  events  I  hope  so. 

London,  3Iay  27, 1857. 
We  had  a  lovely  day  to  reach  Liverpool — Friday — as  fine  a  sunset 
as  could  be  desired,  and  found  comfortable  lodgings  in  the  Union 
Hotel.  On  Sunday  we  went  to  the  Stanhope-street  Chapel  in  the 
morning,  where  I  introduced  myself  to  the  preacher,  and  was  most 
cordially  welcomed.  In  the  afternoon  I  heard  a  fine  street  sermon 
from  Hugh  Stowell  Brown,  who  is  the  Beecher  of  Liverpool.  At 
night  Milburn  preached  very  excellently  indeed  at  Stanhope-street, 
and  I  prayed  the  first  prayer,  and  Bishop  Simpson  the  last.  The 
occasion  was  a  very  interesting  one  indeed.  Monday  we  were  busy 
receiving  calls,  attending  to  letters  of  credit,  etc.,  and  on  Monday 
night  at  five  Kate  and  I  left  in  the  train  for  Birmingham,  the  rest  of 
the  party  remaining  behind  till  Tuesday  morning.    We  reached  B. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


269 


at  eight,  and  had  apartments  at  the  Queen's  Hotel.  Left  next  morn- 
ing at  half-past  nine,  and  reached  London  at  half-past  two.  I  had 
to  ride  a  couple  of  hours  to  find  lodgings.  We  finally  got  room  for 
the  soles  of  our  feet  at  the  Exeter  Hall  Hotel,  where  we  have  stayed 
till  now. 

It  is  very  hard  to  write  long  letters  amid  such  constant  activity. 
You  come  home  at  night  thoroughly  worn  out,  and  not  disposed  to 
write  at  all.  I  wrote  one  letter  from  Liverpool  to  the  "  Northwestern 
Christian  Advocate,"  and  that  is  all  I  have  yet  sent  to  the  press. 
I  hope  to  do  better  in  that  line  by  and  by. 

1  forgot  to  say  that  Mr.  Young,  the  president  of  the  Conference, 
called  on  us  to-day,  full  of  offers  of  kindness  and  attention. 

Rotterdam.  Juiie  6,  1857. 

We  have  gone  so  fast  and  done  so  much  that  I  hardly  know  how 
to  begin  to  write  to  you.  First  about  health  :  I  improve  daily  in 
throat — can  eat  whatever  I  please,  and  have  utterly  discarded  arrow- 
root and  cakes. 

We  stayed  in  London  till  Wednesday  night,  in  order  to  attend  a  re- 
ception given  to  the  deputation  at  the  Wesleyan  Mission  House,  which 
I  will  describe  by  and  by.  Of  course,  we  were  sight-seeing  most  of 
the  time ;  but  I  cannot  go  through  the  descriptions  of  parks,  muse- 
ums, palaces,  etc.    All  the  eminent  Wesleyan  ministers  called  on  us. 

On  Wednesday  night  came  off  the  reception  at  the  Mission  House. 
Some  hundreds  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  invited  for  six  o'clock. 
At  that  hour  we  went.  First  we  were  taken  into  a  room  on  the 
ground  floor,  where  refreshments  were  served  ;  then  up  stairs  to  a 
fine  hall,  where  hundreds  were  gathered.  Many  of  these  were  intro- 
duced to  us,  and  we  circumnavigated  the  hall  several  times.  The 
people  seemed  very  kind,  and  not  a  little  curious  to  see  us.  At 
about  half-past  seven  the  president  of  the  Conference,  Mr.  Young, 
called  the  meeting  to  order ;  and,  after  singing  and  prayer,  made  an 
address  of  congratulation,  which  was  very  kind  and  flattering.  He 
then  called  on  Bishop  Simpson,  who  made  a  very  excellent  and  touch- 
ing speech.     I  was  then  summoned,  and  I  did  the  best  I  could. 


2/0 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


After  me  came  Mr.  Milburn,  who  interested  the  audience  exceed- 
ingly by  a  humorous  account  of  his  "  bringing  up,"  and  of  Western 
Methodism.  Altogether,  the  meeting  was  very  pleasant  and  satis- 
factory. 

On  Thursday  morning  we  left  Wood's  Hotel.  At  twelve  v*  e  em- 
barked at  St.  Katherine's  wharf  in  the  steamer  Leo  for  Antwerp.  I 
had  secured,  among  other  state-rooms,  one  with  four  berths  for  our 
four  ladies,  and  lo  !  I  found  a  valet  de  place  claiming  it  for  the 
duchess  of  St.  Alban's  and  her  daughter.  Every  body  seemed  sur- 
prised that  I  did  not  give  it  up  at  once  ;  but  I  simply  said  that  if  the 
duchess  had  engaged  it  before  I  had,  she  should  have  it ;  and  as  this 
could  not  be  proved,  she  did  not  get  it.  But  by  and  by  the  duchess 
and  her  daughter  came  along,  and  I  was  quite  smitten.  She  be- 
haved in  the  most  ladylike  manner,  and  expressed  the  best  feelings 
about  it.  I  then  offered  her  the  room  occupied  by  Bishop  Simpson 
and  his  son,  but  she  got  another,  telling  me  she  was  "  equally 
obliged  "  as  if  she  had  taken  it.  We  had  several  chats  after  it,  and 
she  was  much  interested  in  Kate's  health,  and  in  our  American 
trunks.  We  met  again  in  the  Cathedral  at  Antwerp,  and  had  an- 
other talk;  but  I  had  not  the  elasticity  of  tongue  to  say  "your 
grace  "  once  during  the  whole  of  these  talks.  It  was  a  very  pleasant 
rencounter,  taking  it  altogether ;  but  I  suppose  she  had  not  been 
called  "you  "  so  much  in  the  whole  course  of  her  life. 

Reached  Antwerp  at  twelve  on  Friday,  and  went  before  dinner  to 
see  the  grand  Cathedral  of  Notre  Dame,  which  contains  Rubens's 
great  masterpieces  —  the  descent  from  the  cross,  etc.,  cf  which  I 
have  told  you  before.  Here  I  decided  not  to  go  on  to  Norway  with 
Bishop  Simpson.  The  rest  of  us  stayed  in  Antwerp  till  twelve  on 
Saturday,  and  then  came  on  to  Rotterdam.  It  was  very  hot,  and 
we  found  it  a  pleasant  change  from  the  cars  to  the  steamer  in  the 
evening  at  half-past  seven.  We  passed  Dort,  where  the  famous 
synod  was  held,  and  reached  the  Hotel  des  Bains,  Rotterdam,  at  ten 
o'clock.  Here  your  mother  and  I  have  two  rooms  on  the  ground 
floor :  the  first  a  sitting-room,  about  fifteen  feet  square,  the  back  a 
bed-room,  twenty-five  by  thirty-five,  with  splendid  furniture,  ceiling 


THE  REV.  DR.  M.'CLINTOCK. 


271 


painted  in  allegorical  designs,  and  three  beds.  We  went  to  the 
Cathedral  to  church  Sunday  morning.  The  sermon  was  in  Dutch, 
(not  German,)  an  hour  and  a  half  long.  After  sermon,  the  singing 
of  four  thousand  powerful  voices,  accompanied  by  the  grandest 
organ  in  the  world,  (with  sixty-five  hundred  pipes  and  ninety  stops,) 
was  one  of  the  most  overpowering  effects  of  music  that  I  have  ever 
listened  to. 

DiEPPK,  June  21,  1S57. 
We  were  very  sorry  on  reaching  Paris  to  find  that  Madame  Joseph 
had  moved  away,  and  that  we  could  not  find  her  out.  We  went  first 
to  the  Hotel  du  Louvre,  which  is  the  grandest  place  of  the  kind  you 
can  imagine — rooms  fit  for  kings'  palaces,  and  furniture  to  match. 
But  as  we  found  it  would  cost  us  six  dollars  or  more  a  day  a  piece, 
we  only  stayed  one  night,  and  then  went  to  the  Hotel  de  Lille  et 
d'Albion.  We  are  settled  here  to  spend  Sunday,  in  the  same  house, 
and,  I  think,  in  the  very  same  rooms,  that  we  had  three  years  ago, 
when  your  dear  Atta  was  along.  The  very  same  old  chambermaid, 
in  a  crimped  cap,  that  waited  on  us  then,  attends  to  us  now.  The 
rain  pours  in  torrents  this  morning,  and  will  prevent  our  going  to 
church.  Our  hotel  fronts  on  a  basin  of  the  harbor,  and  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  basin  a  battalion  of  infai\try  is  passing,  with  eight  or 
twelve  drums,  disturbing  the  Sabbath  air.  After  the  people  come 
from  church  they  will  occupy  themselves  in  all  sorts  of  amusements. 

Bklfast,  July  5,  1857. 

We  came  from  Killarney  to  Dublin  on  Friday  ;  rode  all  the  after- 
noon about  the  city,  and  so  saw  Trinity  College,  the  old  Parliament 
House,  the  Custom  House,  etc.  Then  mother  went  out  and  bought 
some  things.  Left  Dublin  at  half-past  eight  on  Saturday.  An  el- 
derly gentleman,  of  elegant  manners,  sat  in  the  same  coupe  with  us. 

At  a  certain  station  he  got  out,  and  I  heard  him  say  to  another  gen- 
tleman on  the  platform  that  "  Mrs.  M'Clintock  had  not  come,"  When 
he  came  in  again  he  noticed  the  name  on  my  writing-desk,  and  said, 
"Why,  that  might  belong  to  our  member  of  parliament."  He  told 
me  that  John  M'Clintock,  Esq.,  was  the  member,  and  showed  me 


272 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


his  estate  as  we  passed  it,  remarking  that  he  was  a  kinsman.  We 
reached  Belfast  at  thirty-five  minutes  past  one,  and  were  hardly  set- 
tled in  the  Imperial  Hotel  when  a  deputation  came  to  take  me  and 
Kate  to  Mr.  Alderman  Mullen's  villa,  where  lodgings  were  prepared 
for  us.  But  as  we  were  settled,  we  stayed.  To-day  I  preached  to  a 
fine  congregation  on  i  Cor.  viii,  6,  at  the  Donegal  Square  Church. 
After  church.  Dr.  Alfred  M'Clintock,  of  Dublin,  who  had  been  to 
hear  me  preach,  came  into  the  hotel  to  see  us.  He  was  very  cordial 
indeed.  He  had  just  returned  from  Liverpool,  where  he  had  been  to 
see  his  brother.  Captain  F.  L.  M'Clintock,  sail.  This  last  is  the 
one  mentioned  in  Kane's  expedition,  and  he  now  sails  as  commander 
of  the  new  Arctic  expedition.  I  wish  I  had  seen  him  before  he 
sailed. 

We  remain  here  to-morrow,  then  on  Tuesday  go  to  Antrim,  thence 
to  the  Giant's  Causeway ;  Wednesday  to  Londonderry  and  Omagh  ; 
Thursday  back  to  Derry ;  Friday  to  Belfast ;  Friday  night  to  Glas- 
gow. Thus  far  we  have  been  highly  favored  in  weather,  and  in  the 
care  of  Providence,  saving  us  from  all  accident.  My  health  has  won- 
derfully improved.  I  preached  Friday  week,  made  a  speech  Mon- 
day, another  Thursday,  preached  again  to-day,  am  to  make  another 
speech  to-morrow  night ;  and  all  this  without  serious  harm  to  my 
throat. 

Londonderry,  July  8,  1857. 

It  seems  impossible  for  us  to  get  any  letters.  All  that  we  have  yet 
had  are  two.  The  rest  get  them  in  stacks,  but  Bishop  Simpson  and 
I  get  none.  I  fear  there  is  something  wrong  about  your  mode  of 
directing  letters,  and  I  have  so  stated  to  Gussie. 

On  Monday  night,  July  6,  Bishop  Simpson  preached.  I  made  a 
speech  after  him  to  a  large  audience  in  Donegal  Square,  Belfast.  At 
ten  Tuesday  we  started  for  Antrim  ;  stopped  there  till  three.  Saw 
the  Round  Tower  there,  the  most  perfect  in  Ireland,  and  then  went 
through  the  domain  and  pleasure  grounds  of  Antrim  Castle.  They 
are  very  beautiful.  At  three  we  took  the  cars  again,  reached  Port 
Rush  at  five,  and  there  took  jaunting-cars  for  the  Causeway,  whence 
we  returned  at  half-past  six.    Spent  two  hours  inspecting  the  won- 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


273 


dcrs  of  the  Causeway,  and  then  came  in  and  ate  a  hearty  supper, 
and  went  to  bed  on  the  floor  of  the  sittitng-room,  as  the  bedrooms 
were  all  full.  This  morning  took  another  run  to  the  Causeway  in 
the  rain  ;  at  ten  started  in  a  big  carriage  and  a  car.  Stopped  at  Fort 
Stewart,  at  Mr.  Cather's,  who  had  refreshments  for  us.  At  one 
reached  Coleraine,  where  an  elegant  lunch  was  prepared  for  our 
party.  After\vard  we  walked  around  the  walls  of  Derry,  under  the 
guidance  of  Mr.  Alexander  Lindsay  and  Mr.  M'Arthur.  The  rest 
have  all  gone  to  church  to  hear  Bishop  Simpson,  and  I  stayed  at 
home  to  write. 

I  forgot  to  say  that  the  Belfast  people  made  me  take  three  pounds 
to  pay  our  hotel  bill  while  stopping  there.  Indeed,  the  kindness  of 
these  Irish  people  knows  no  limit  whatsoever. 

To  Miss  Jane  M'  Clintock. 

Liverpool,  July  81,  1S57. 

I  was  greatly  rejoiced  to  get  the  letters  of  July  14  by  the  Columbia 
day  before  yesterday.  It  was  one  of  the  best  budgets  I  have  yet  had, 
and  it  was  certainly  quite  cheering.  The  news  was  all  good  news, 
except  the  stor)^  about  hot  weather.  We  have  had  nothing  here  but 
cool,  pleasant  weather ;  in  Paris  Kate  says  it  is  warmer,  but  yet  I 
fancy  none  of  them  know  any  thing  of  the  enormous  heats  w^hich 
you  must  suffer  if  the  summer  has  fairly  set  in. 

We  had  our  reception-day  in  the  Conference  yesterday.  At  half- 
past  ten  the  doors  were  thrown  open,  and  the  people  flocked  in. 
Bishop  Simpson  spoke  first  and  grandly.  The  audience  was  roused 
to  a  high  pitch  of  enthusiasm,  and  I  succeeded  in  keeping  it  up  dur- 
ing my  speech,  which  was  one  of  the  most  successful  I  ever  made  in 
my  life.  We  are  engaged  to  dine  out  every  day  till  we  leave  Liver- 
pool, and  would  have,  doubtless,  for  a  month,  if  we  could  stay.  The 
English  are  not  so  quick  and  warm  in  their  hospitality  as  the  Irish, 
but  it  is  very  good  when  it  comes.  W^e  have  invitations  to  spend 
weeks  in  Ireland,  but  I  don't  suppose  we  shall  be  able  to  get  the 

enjoyment  of  them. 
18 


274 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


Hull,  Auguftt  4,  1857. 
My  preaching  on  Sunday  did  me  good  instead  of  harm,  and  I  left 
Liverpool  at  ten  this  morning  to  preach  here  to-night,  and  to  go 
back  to-morrow.  As  I  am  pretty  tired,  and  have  soon  to  go  into  the 
pulpit,  I  cannot  write  a  long  letter.  To-morrow  we  take  leave  of  the 
Conference  ;  Thursday  go  to  London  ;  stop  there  Friday  to  attend  to 
various  matters  of  necessity  about  the  purchase  of  books  for  Troy 
University;  then  on  Saturday,  God  willing,  we  shall  be  at  217  Rue 
St.  Honore,  Paris. 

Paeis,  Aug.  14,  1S57. 

I  told  you  in  my  last  how  much  preaching  and  travelling  I  had 
been  able  to  do,  and  I  bore  the  rapid  trip  to  Paris  equally  well. 
Since  I  came  here  I  haye  been  chiefly  occupied  with  the  purchase  of 
books  for  the  Troy  University,  and  have  thus  far  succeeded  very  well. 
To-day  was  the  "  inauguration  "  of  the  new  Louvre — a  grand  display 
of  troops,  some  thousands  of  them,  with  the  emperor  and  empress  in 
state  carriages,  and  a  grand  cortege  of  diplomatic  carriages,  etc.  I 
saw  the  troops  and  the  cavalry,  but  I  did  not  get  near  enough  to  see 
Napoleon  and  Eugenie.  Emory  succeeded  better  than  I  did,  as  he 
got  near  enough  to  see  the  royal  people  very  well.  I  am  more  glad 
that  he  saw  them  than  that  I  should. 

Berlin,  Sept.  15, 1857. 
We  have  all  sorts  of  sights  of  kings  and  queens,  and  should 
have  been  right  glad  to  present  you  to  them.  Last  Friday,  on  the 
king's  special  invitation,  I  went,  with  about  one  thousand  other 
people,  to  visit  him  at  his  new  palace  at  Potsdam.  He  gave  us 
the  run  of  the  palace  and  grounds,  with  plenty  of  ice  cream,  fruits, 
lemonades,  and  light  wines.  We  were  drawn  up  according  to  na- 
tionalities. The  German  usher  said,  "  Americans  there  ;  "  and  when 
we  were  "  there  "  he  announced,  "  English  join  on  to  the  Americans," 
which  the  English  did  not  seem  to  like  very  much,  but  yet  they 
obeyed.  The  king,  a  plain  old  man  of  sixty-five,  came  first  to  the 
Americans,  and  seeing  Governor  Wright,  our  ambassador,  at  the  head 
of  the  colunm,  he  said,  "  My  dear  Wright,  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you, 
and  to  see  you  here."    He  asked  Bishop  Simpson  the  name  of  his 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


275 


diocese,  which  the  bishop  could  not  exactly  answer.  Various  other 
sayings  might  be  chronicled,  for  the  old  gentleman  wended  his  way 
down  the  Hne,  making  remarks  for  about  two  hours.  Meantime  the 
queen  talked  to  the  ladies,  and  when  she  had  done  with  them  we 
were  introduced,  whereupon  she  asked  if  I  were  really  an  Amer- 
ican Altogether  it  was  a  great  and  good  thing  for  a  king  to  do  in 
the  heart  of  Europe. 

To-day  I  saw  the  sham  fight  at  Spandau — some  forty  thousand 
troops — and  had  the  felicity  of  bowing  to  the  king,  to  the  emperor 
of  Russia,  to  Prince  Gortschakofif,  and  ever  so  many  more.  What 
was  to  me  far  more  interesting,  I  had  a  long  talk  with  Chevalier 
Bunsen,  who  treated  me  most  kindly  and  fraternally. 

GuENT.  Sej)t.  20, 1557. 

No  session  of  the  "Conference  of  Christians  from  all  Lands  "  at 
Berlin,  was  more  interesting  than  that  of  Wednesday  afternoon,  Sep- 
tember 16,  which  was  occupied  with  reports  from  the  lands  of  the 
Bible  and  from  Turkey  and  Greece.  When  1  went  into  the  church 
I  saw  the  king  of  Prussia  in  his  accustomed  seat  in  the  gallery,  lis- 
tening eagerly  with  his  hand  at  his  ear,  to  Dr.  Dwight,  who  was 
giving  an  account  of  the  American  mission,  and  also  of  the  progress 
of  Christianity  and  of  religious  liberty  throughout  the  dominions  of 
the  Sultan  In  the  morning  there  had  been  a  grand  display  of  mili- 
tary manoeuvres  at  Spandau,  and  a  sham  battle,  with  sixty  to  eighty 
thousand  men  engaged,  and  I  had  seen  the  king  upon  that  field  with 
the  emperor  of  Russia,  watching  the  movements  of  the  vast  masses 
of  troops.  I  could  not  but  think  that  he  looked  happier  and  more 
at  home  here,  in  the  midst  of  this  "army  of  the  cross,"  than  there 
amid  the  noise  of  artillery  and  the  throng  ot  serried  battalions,  mim- 
icking war.  At  all  events  he  sat  uniil  seven  in  the  evening,  apparent- 
ly as  much  interested  in  the  reports  of  the  American  missionaries  as 
any  clerg)'man  in  the  body. 

Dr.  Dwight  was  followed  by  Dr.  King,  of  Greece,  who  gave  an  ac- 
count of  the  mission  and  the  schools  at  Athens,  of  which  he  has 
been  the  head  for  so  many  useful  years.    It  was  a  great  pleasure  to 


276 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


me  to  meet  these  two  men,  whose  names  have  long  held  so  promi- 
nent a  place  among  Christian  missionaries,  and  I  trust  I  may  be  ex- 
cused for  saying,  also,  that  1  felt  a  little  national  pride  in  hearing 
these  noble  ministers  from  our  own  country  recounting  before  this 
assembly  of  eminent  and  learned  men  from  all  nations  the  story  of  the 
blessings  with  which  God  had  followed  their  labors  in  those  "  lands 
of  old  renown  "  to  which  they  had  come  from  the  far  West,  bringing 
messages  of  Christian  peace  and  love. 

Dr.  Schauffler.  of  Constantinople,  had  intended  also  to  be  present, 
but  the  interests  of  his  mission  demanded  his  presence  in  America. 
He  wrote  a  letter  to  the  secretary  of  the  Conference  requesting  that 
prayer  should  be  offered  at  the  meeting  in  Berlin  at  6  P.  M.  on  Wed- 
nesday, on  which  day,  at  a  corresponding  hour,  prayer  would  ascend 
from  a  Christian  congregation  at  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  for  the 
same  mission.  Accordingly,  at  six  precisely,  President  Kunze  rose 
and  requested  the  Conference  and  the  congregation  to  unite  in  prayer 
for  the  work  of  God  in  the  East.  The  whole  assembly,  preachers 
and  people,  with  the  king  of  Prussia  at  their  head,  rose  as  one  man, 
and  all  seemed  to  join  fervently  and  heartily  in  the  prayer  led  by 
Pastor  Kunze.  Altogether  it  was  a  scene  of  rare  interest.  I  could 
not  help  thinking  it  even  one  olgreat  sublimity. 

In  the  evening  of  the  same  day  we  had  the  pleasure  of  taking  tea 
with  Thomas  Farmer,  Esq.,  of  England,  who,  with  his  amiable  fam- 
ily, and  the  Rev.  James  H.  Rigg,  of  Stockport,  were  our  neighbors 
at  the  Hotel  de  Russie.  Mr.  Farmer,  as  you  are  well  aware,  is  al- 
ways ready  for  every  good  word  and  w^ork  ;  he  has  taken  a  great  in- 
terest in  the  Evangelical  Alliance  from  its  inception,  in  1846,  and  in 
this  Berlin  meeting  he  has  been  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  use- 
ful of  the  English  delegates.  On  this  evening  he  gathered  a  num- 
ber of  brethren  from  all  lands  to  break  bread  and  talk  together.  It 
was  a  happy  idea,  and  we  had  only  to  regret  that  such  reunions 
were  not  more  frequent  during  the  sessions  of  the  Berlin  Conference. 

I  have  before  spoken  of  the  kindness  of  the  Hon.  Joseph  A. 
Wright,  late  Governor  of  Indiana,  and  now  American  ambassador  at' 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


277 


Berlin.  He  has  omitted  no  possible  attention  to  Bishop  Simpson 
and  myself;  indeed,  I  have  sometimes  been  afraid  of  trespassing  too 
much  upon  his  exuberant  kindness.  On  Monday,  the  i6th,  he  in- 
vited all  the  Americans  present  in  Berlin  to  dinner  at  the  hotel  d'An- 
gleterre,  and  the  number  sufficed  to  fill  two  long  tables.  Among 
them  were  Dr.  Dwight,  of  Constantinople  ;  Dr.  King,  of  Athens  ;  Dr. 
Patton,  of  New  York ;  Dr.  Baird,  the  Rev.  W.  F.  Warren,  and  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Eldridge,  of  New  England  ;  Dr.  Black,  of  Pittsburgh  ;  Dr. 
Nast,  and  the  Rev.  L.  S.  Jacoby.  It  was  delightful  in  this  far-off 
land  to  surround  a  table  spread  by  the  bounty  of  our  own  ambassa- 
dor, and  to  meet  so  many  of  our  brethren  of  different  denominations, 
yet  all,  as  Christians  and  as  Americans,  seeing  eye  to  eye. 

While  engaged  in  his  pastoral  work  and  church  build- 
ing, our  friend  continued  the  preparation  of  material 
for  the  Biblical  and  Theological  Cyclopaedia,  with  which 
he  had  been  occupied  since  1853.  This  chief  literary- 
product  of  his  life  grew  upon  him  and  his  associate, 
Dr.  James  Strong,  as  it  progressed  towards  comple- 
tion. In  its  scope  it  embraces  biblical,  theological,  and 
ecclesiastical  literature.  It  was  at  first  supposed  to  be 
practicable  to  compress  an  epitome  of  these  departments 
into  two  large  octavo  volumes,  but  the  two  volumes  have 
grown  to  six,  and  will  be  likely  to  reach  as  far  as  ten. 
No  similar  work  in  English  on  so  comprehensive  a  plan 
had  before  been  undertaken,  unless  we  except  the  trans- 
lation of  Herzog's  Real  Encyklopaedia,"  which,  unfor- 
tunately, was  suspended  during  our  late  civil  war.  Dr. 
M'Clintock  brought  to  this  important  undertaking  great 
resources  of  knowledge,  the  habit  of  thorough  research, 
an  unusual  skill  in  the  treatment  of  the  doctrines  of  phi- 
losophy and  theology,  and  a  catholic  temper.   The  whole 


2/8  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

of  systematic  theology,  of  Church  history  and  usage,  and 
of  ecclesiastical  biography,  came  under  his  observation 
in  the  selection  and  elaboration  of  the  articles  for  which 
he  was  responsible.  He  lived  to  see  three  volumes  issued, 
and  was  busy  with  the  fourth,  when  his  pen  dropped  for- 
ever from  his  hand.  Dr.  Strong,  whose  entire  life  has 
been  devoted  to  Biblical  studies,  has  gone  on  successfully 
with  the  task  of  completing  this  laborious  work. 

Regret  is  sometimes  expressed  that  Dr.  M'Clintock  has 
left  behind  him  no  literary  product  which  fully  repre- 
sents his  great  talents  and  various  learning.  It  must 
not  be  forgotten  that  he  died  in  his  fifty-sixth  year — an 
age  which,  for  a  statesman,  is  counted  young,  and  for  an 
author,  the  fit  season  for  the  gathering  in  of  the  harvests 
of  life's  thinking.  Cut  off  in  the  midst  of  his  years,  large 
projects  were  left  by  him  unrealized.  He  had  made  ex- 
tensive studies  in  the  Pauline  writings,  and  had  written 
and  delivered  numerous  lectures  on  the  Epistle  to  the 
Romans,  which  he  intended  to  put  to  press,  but  waited 
till  they  could  be  brought  into  such  form  as  would  satisfy 
his  critical  judgment.  He  meditated  much  upon  a  com- 
plete exposition  of  systematic  theology.  And  if,  in  early 
life,  a  position  at  the  head  of  a  divinity  school,  such  as  he 
held  during  his  last  years,  had  fallen  to  him,  this  would 
have  been  the  work  to  which  he  would,  most  likely,  have 
dedicated  all  his  faculties.  But  like  a  wise  man,  he  did 
''the  duty  that  lay  nearest  to  him,"  and  so  made  his  life 
fruitful  and  powerful  in  every  direction. 

What  was  done  by  him  was  accomplished  under 
conditions  of  health,  which  would  have  crushed  most 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  279 

men.  After  1848  he  never  had  firm  health.  Despite 
fair  appearances,  the  spring  within  was  broken,  and  he 
brokenly  lived  on."  His  great  spirit  resisted  and  con- 
quered depression,  and  threw  over  his  life  the  charm 
of  poetry,  love,  and  joy.  I  have  often  rallied  ^him,  in  a 
good-natured  way,  upon  his  frequent  ailments,  but  since 
reading  his  letters  and  papers  the  impression  has  been 
deepened  in  my  mind  that  ill-health  was  for  years,  with 
him,  a  terrible  reality;  and  that  he  kept  on  working 
when  others,  in  his  condition,  would  have  pronounced 
themselves  hopeless  invalids. 


28o 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


CHAPTER  IX. 


860-1862. 


Appointed  Pastor  of  the  American  Chapel,  Paris— Cordial  Eeception  by  the  Congrega- 
tion—Engages to  Correspond  with  the  "Methodist" — Breaking  out  of  the  CivU  War  in  the 
United  States— Patriotic  Activity  of  Dr.  M'Clintock— Speech  in  Exeter  Hall  at  the  Wesleyan 
Missionary  Anniversary — Great  Effect  of  the  Speech — Meeting  of  Americans  at  the  Hotel 
du  Louvre,  Paris— Subscription  for  Battery  of  Rifled  Cannon — Dr.  M'Clintock  Translates 
and  Circulates,  in  England,  De  Gasparin's  "  Uprising  of  a  Great  People" — Speech  at  Meet- 
ing of  Americans  in  London,  July  4,  1S61 — The  "Trent"  Imbroglio — Active  EflForts  of 
Dr.  MX'lintock  to  Eemove  English  Misunderstandings — Correspondence  with  the  liev. 
Wm.  Arthur  in  Relation  to  Mason  and  Slidell — His  Devotion  to  his  Work  as  Pastor  of  the 
Chapel— Fruit  of  his  Preaching — Readiness  to  Serve  Destitute  and  Suffering  Americans — 
Lending  a  Hand. 


T  the  close  of  his  connection  with  St.  Paul's  Meth- 


odist  Episcopal  Church,  New  York,  Dr.  M'Clin- 
tock  accepted  an  invitation  to  take  charge  of  the  Amer- 
ican Chapel  in  the  city  of  Paris.  The  chapel  had  been 
established  by  the  American  and  Foreign  Christian 
Union  of  this  country,  on  an  unsectarian  basis,  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  to  American  travellers  and  residents 
in  the  capital  of  France  the  benefits  of  Protestant  worship. 
It  set  up  a  distinctive  and  important  part  of  American 
life  in  a  foreign  land  ;  it  was  a  fragment  of  home  which 
brought  to  our  countrymen  a  hallowed  Sabbath,  and 
a  simple  religious  service  in  their  own  tongue.  Such 
eminent  ministers  as  Dr.  Kirk,  of  Boston,  and  Dr.  Pren- 
tiss, of  New  York,  had  preceded  Dr.  M'Clintock  in  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  Chapel.  It  had  become  a  ral- 
lying point  for  Americans  in  Paris  ;  hardly  a  Sunday 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLIXTOCK. 


281 


passed  without  the  appearance  in  its  pews  of  some  of  our 
countrymen,  well  known  both  at  home  and  abroad.  The 
congregation,  though  continually  changing  in  its  compo- 
sition, was  well  maintained.  On  pleasant  Sundays  it 
rose,  not  unfrequently,  to  the  number  of  three  hundred 
persons,  and  seldom  fell  below  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

On  his  arrival  at  Paris  our  friend  was  received  most 
cordially  by  his  flock,  and  immediately  addressed  him- 
self to  his  duties.  His  health  being  again  feeble,  he 
had  requested  the  Rev.  Andrew  Longacre,  of  Philadel- 
phia, to  take  the  position  of  assistant  pastor,  and  found 
him  a  most  serviceable  and  affectionate  associate.  He 
was  met  at  his  entrance  upon  his  work  by  a  difficulty  in 
relation  to  liturgical  and  non-liturgical  services.  There 
were  members  of  the  congregation  who  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  the  u^e  of  a  liturgy,  and  would  have  been 
pained  by  its  omission ;  others  greatly  preferred  extem- 
porary prayers.  Applying  himself  to  the  problem  before 
him  with  his  usual  readiness  and  tact,  Dr.  M'Clintock 
soon  succeeded  in  effecting  a  settlement,  with  which  all 
parties  were  satisfied.  At  fifteen  minutes  past  eleven 
o'clock  on  Sunday,  the  morning  prayer  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  was  used  ;  at  twelve  extemporary 
prayer  introduced  the  sermon ;  the  afternoon  service  was 
non-liturgical.  All  shades  of  American  politics  were 
represented  in  the  congregation,  and  in  the  ministers 
from  home  who  were  invited  to  occupy  the  pulpit.  Dr. 
Thornwell,  of  South  Carolina,  preached  for  the  pastor  on 
one  Sunday  morning,  and  Dr.  William  Adams,  of  New 
York,  on  the  Sunday  morning  following.    No  effort  was 


282 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


spared  in  the  administration  of  the  chapel  to  make  it  "  a 
symbol  of  the  essential  unity  of  American  Evangelical 
Christians  in  all  points  of  the  common  faith." 

Before  leaving  New  York  Dr.  M'Clintock  became  asso- 
ciated with  the  "  Methodist,"  which  had  just  been  estab- 
lished, as  its  corresponding  editor.  The  selection  was 
most  fortunate  both  for  himself  and  for  the  readers  of  the 
paper.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war  in  1861,  he 
had  at  once  a  medium  of  communication  with  his  coun- 
trymen, through  which  they  were  advised  of  the  aspects 
of  foreign  opinion,  and  the  movements  of  foreign  poli- 
ticians. He  studied  the  fluctuations  of  European  policy 
in  relation  to  the  United  States  most  thoroughly.  The 
accuracy  of  his  intelligence  and  the  breadth  of  his  views 
enabled  him  to  furnish  the  readers  of  the  Methodist  " 
a  series  of  letters  which,  to  say  the  least,  were  not 
surpassed  by  any  contributed  during  the  war  to  the 
American  press.  In  his  letters  to  myself,  as  editor,  as 
well  as  in  those  written  to  other  friends,  his  over-anxi- 
ety in  relation  to  particular  events  was  very  apparent ; 
this,  however,  at  his  distance  from  the  field  of  opera- 
tions, was  very  natural.  But  no  one  could  be  more  con- 
fident than  he  of  the  ultimate  triumph  of  our  arms. 
His  predictions  of  the  length  of  the  war  and  its  varying 
fortunes  proved  to  be  remarkably  accurate. 

The  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war  found  Dr.  M'Clin- 
tock in  the  very  position,  too,  where  he  could  render 
the  most  important  service  to  his  distracted  country. 
Had  he  been  at  home,  he  would  have  been  among  the 
foremost  to  animate  his  loyal  fellow-citizens  with  tongue 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


283 


and  pen.  There  was,  however,  an  equally  important 
work  to  be  done  by  intelligent  and  patriotic  Americans 
abroad.  The  apparent  acquiescence  of  the  people,  dur- 
ing the  closing  months  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration, 
in  the  division  of  the  Union  as  an  accomplished  fact — the 
surrender  of  Fort  Sumter,  the  loss  of  Norfolk,  the  fee- 
bleness of  the  first  military  preparations  of  Mr.  Lincoln's 
government,  the  hesitation  of  a  peace-loving  nation  to 
take  up  arms,  the  distrust  of  the  future  shown  by  so 
many — and,  on  the  other  hand,  the  rapidity  and  decision 
of  the  rebel  movements,  had,  taken  together,  created 
the  opinion  in  Europe  that  we  had  neither  the  capacity 
nor  the  will  to  maintain  the  Union  by  force. 

The  public  opinion  of  England,  at  first  favorable,  veered 
round,  and,  led  by  the  "  Times,"  became  bitterly  hostile. 
Belligerent  rights  were  almost  instantly  conceded  to  the 
Confederates  ;  threats  were  loudly  uttered,  that  if  we 
attempted  to  blockade  the  southern  ports,  the  blockade 
would  be  broken  ;  the  fitting  out  of  rebel  cruisers  in 
English  harbors  was  either  purposely  not  seen  or  con- 
nived at ;  threats  of  armed  intervention  were  rife,  and 
these,  no  matter  how  idle,  served  their  purpose  in  affect- 
ing public  opinion  ;  and  before  many  months  came  the 
unlucky  Trent "  affair,  which  brought  England  and  the 
United  States  to  the  verge  of  war.  Dr.  M'Clintock  was 
one  of  the  men  whose  qualities  show  best  in  such  a  crisis. 
He  was  courageous  by  nature,  and  his  courage  was  forti- 
fied by  Christian  faith.  His  confidence  in  the  triumph 
of  right  principles  was  immovable.  He  had  the  scholar's 
clear  insight  of  the  drift  of  public  events,  and  the  scholar's 


284  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

large  and  unselfish  interest  in  public  affairs.  Coleridge 
had  taught  him  that  in  the  knowledge  of  law  dwells 
the  spirit  of  prophecy,"  and  he  had  studied  the  laws  of 
moral  and  political  government  too  long  to  question,  for 
a  moment,  what  the  issue  of  our  fiery  trial  would  be. 
In  all  the  dark  period  from  1861  to  1863  his  voice  rang 
out  clear  in  its  predictions  of  our  final  success  ;  his 
courage  made  others  courageous,  his  hopefulness  gave 
others  hope. 

His  patriotism  was  not,  however,  of  a  passive  kind. 
Instantly  comprehending  the  situation,  he  struck  out  a 
line  of  action  for  himself.  He  had  no  official  position, 
could  exercise  no  official  authority,  could  expect  no  of- 
ficial recognition  ;  but  he  was  a  citizen,  and  owed  his 
country  all  that  it  was  in  his  power  to  do,  and  that  was, 
for  him,  warrant  enough.  Appreciating  the  importance 
of  correcting  the  misrepresentations  of  the  London 
Times,"  he  availed  himself  of  his  opportunity  as  one 
of  the  speakers  at  the  Wesleyan  Missionary  anniver- 
sary in  Exeter  Hall,  April,  1861,  to  call  the  attention 
of  the  Methodists  of  England  to  the  course  of  that 
paper.  He  had  entire  confidence  in  the  honesty  and 
fairness  of  Wesleyan  feeling  in  relation  to  this  country, 
and  he  knew  the  power  of  Wesleyan  public  opinion. 
The  Methodists  had  come  up  from  all  parts  of  England 
to  this  their  great  annual  festival,  and  they  went  back  to 
their  homes  with  right  views  of  the  question  at  issue  in 
our  desperate  struggle  with  rebellion.  How  to  put  a  po- 
litical speech  inside  of  a  missionar}^  address  might  puzzle 
most  men,  but  it  was  done  in  this  instance  supremely 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLIXTOCK. 


285 


well.  Dr.  M'Clintock  found  a  passage  in  the  remarks 
of  another  speaker  which  served  as  an  introduction  of 
the  topic  in  which  he  was  so  much  interested,  and  then 
proceeded  to  say  : — 

The  "  Times  "  said,  the  day  before  yesterday,  just  in  the  words 
that  I  will  now  quote:  "The  great  Republic  is  no  more."  Shall  1 
go  home,  and  tell  my  friends  that  I  don't  know  whether  you  believe 
with  the  "  Times  "  or  not  ?  I  am  inclined  to  think  you  do  not ;  but 
if  you  have  the  slightest  disposition  to  believe  any  such  doctrine  as 
that,  let  me  tell  you,  "  Lay  not  the  flattering  unction  to  your  souls." 
No,  I  don't  believe  that  Britons  will  rejoice  to  see  the  day  when  the 
"  great  Republic  "  shall  be  no  more.    (Tremendous  cheering.) 

But,  if  they  shall,  let  me  tell  you  the  day  of  their  rejoicing  is  very 
far  away.  (Cheers.)  What  sort  of  a  prophet  would  that  have  been, 
who,  just  at  the  beginning  of  the  conflict  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion, when  Great  Britain  was  going  to  fight  her  rebellious  colonies, 
should  have  said  Great  Britain  was  no  more What  would  have 
been  thought  of  the  man  who  would  have  said,  after  you  had  given 
up  the  American  colonies — a  far  bigger  territory  than  any  you  had 
left  at  that  time — what  would  have  been  thought  of  the  newspaper 
that  should  have  said,  at  that  moment,  "  The  great  power  of  the 
British  crown  is  no  more,  the  British  empire  is  defunct  ?  "  He  would 
have  been  a  splendid  prophet,  would  he  not?  Suppose,  too,  that  we 
in  New  York,  editing  papers,  (and  I  have  tried  my  hand  at  that  busi- 
ness myself  in  a  religious  sort  of  way,)  at  the  time  of  your  rebellion 
in  the  East  Indies,  should  have  made  use  of  such  an  expression  as 
that.  I  am  not  afraid  of  talking  about  the  "Times,"  because  I  am 
not  an  Englishman ;  and  if  we  had  printed,  for  two  or  three  days, 
that  Great  Britain  was  no  more,  and  that  the  diadem  was  about  to  fall 
from  the  head  of  Victoria,  because  there  was  a  rebellion  in  India,  it 
would  have  been  quite  a  parallel  case.  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that 
this  strife  in  the  United  States  is  to  end  without  a  loss  of  some  of 
our  territoiT  in  America.    It  may  end  in  that.    It  mav  end  in  the 


286 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


loss  of  part  of  that  territory,  that  is  to  say,  the  slave-holding  part 
of  it ;  and  are  you  the  men  to  say.  We  are  nothing  because  we  are 
not  slave-holders  ?  Why,  there  was  no  part  of  this  great  "  country- 
man's "  speech  (a  laugh)  that  you  applauded  more  than  that  extract 
from  a  Yankee  Quaker's  bit  of  poetry-.  (Loud  laughter.)  Then,  as 
to  that  great  Scotchman  yonder,  there  was  not  a  part  of  his  speech 
that  you  applauded  more  than  that  about  Fanny  Forrester,  a  little 
Yankee  woman,  about  four  feet  seven  and  a  half  inches  high. 
(Laughter.)  No,  we  are  not  dead  and  buried,  and  what  is  more,  we 
do  not  mean  to  be  for  a  very  long  time. 

Now,  let  me  say  to  you,  Mr,  President,  and  this  vast  audience  of 
Wesleyan  ministers,  and  good,  sensible,  intelligent  people,  do  not  let 
your  political  newspapers,  or  your  politicians,  debauch  your  intellects 
or  morals  upon  the  present  exciting  American  question.  For  the 
first  time  in  the  whole  history  of  the  human  race,  a  people,  to  the 
extent  of  twenty  millions,  have  risen  up  to  say,  "  We  will  forfeit  our 
prestige\>^{ox^  the  world  ;  we  will  jeopard  our  name  even  as  a  great 
republic  ;  w^e  will  run  the  risk  even  of  a  terrible  civil  war,  such  as  the 
world  has  never  seen  ;  we  will  do  all  this  sooner  than  we  will  suffer 
that  human  slavery  shall  be  extended  one  inch.  (Tremendous  cheer- 
ing.) I  am  in  earnest  about  that  point,  and  I  do  not  want  you  to 
forget  it;  and  if  you  read  the  "Times"  you  will  need  to  remem- 
ber it. 

W^hen  I  took  up  the  "Times"  at  breakfast  this  morning  and 
read  the  first  fifteen  or  twenty  lines,  it  stopped  my  appetite  for  break- 
fast— I  could  not  get  on — I  had  to  vent  myself  in  a  few  angry-  words 
to  my  wife  before  I  coiild  get  my  appetite  back  again.  (Laughter.) 
I  had  a  paper  put  into  my  hands  called  the  "  Telegraph,"  which  they 
tell  me  has  a  circulation  larger  than  the  "Times  "  now;  it  seemed 
a  capitally-written  paper,  though  I  did  not  like  the  doctrines  of  it. 
What  did  I  read  in  its  one  article  upon  American  affairs  }  This 
sentence,  "  Are  the  Americans  going  to  cut  each  other's  throats 
about  a  miserable  question  of  the  liberty  of  blackamoors.'*"  That, 
in  the  city  of  London  !  —  not  in  any  pro-slavery  paper  in  New 
York  or  Charleston,  but  in  the  city  of  London,  in  a  newspaper 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


287 


that  is  said  to  be  read  by  more  people  than  the  "  Times."  Now,  if 
you  read  either  of  these  papers,  I  hope  you  will  read  between  the 
lines  hereafter.  (Laughter.)  So  far,  at  least,  as  this  congregation 
is  concerned,  I  hope  you  will  not  be  debauched.  We  used  to  think, 
years  ago,  we  heard  voices  coming  across  the  great  Atlantic,  telling 
us  to  be  brave  for  the  slaves  ;  and  three  or  four  years  ago,  when  I 
was  here,  I  was  abused  in  newspapers  printed  in  the  city  of  London, 
because  I  was  a  pro-slavery  man,  it  was  said — not  enough  of  an 
abolitionist ;  and  we  thought  that  Britain  was  in  earnest  in  this. 
And  yet,  if  we  were  to  believe  these  newspapers,  all  these  profes- 
sions have  been  a  sham  and  a  humbug,  and  all  our  antislavery  feel- 
ing has  been  simply  fanaticism  !  God  preserve  us  !  for  I  am  sure 
the  newspapers  never  will.   (Loud  cheers.) 

To  the  efYect  upon  English  Wesleyans  of  this  most 
eloquent  appeal  the  London  ''Watchman"  bore  a  gener- 
ous testimony.  "  Dr.  M'Clintock,"  it  said,  "had  already 
the  sympathy  of  many  an  English  heart  previous  to  that 
bold  but  most  successful  challenge  which  electrified  Ex- 
eter Hall.  Americans  will  read  how  he  maintained  the 
cause  of  his  country  before  an  English  audience,  and 
Englishmen  will  not  despair  of  the  Great  Republic,  if  the 
contest  is  to  be  as  he  puts  it — one  between  free  soil  and  the 
extension  of  slave  territory.  Whatever  our  honored  friend 
may  have  felt,  he  allowed  no  shade  of  sadness  or  of  mis- 
giving to  appear  in  the  presence  of  Englishmen,  though 
he  knew  that  great  assembly,  at  any  rate,  could  be  relied 
upon  as  the  friends  of  his  country  and  of  his  Church. 
The  course  he  took  was  even  more  consummately  skillful 
than  it  was  strikingly  bold  ;  and  we  never  before  saw 
Exeter  Hall  in  such  a  tumult  of  acclamation.  The  re- 
sponse was  just  such  as  became  a  great  Methodist  meet- 


288 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


ing,  uttering  in  a  moment  of  generous  enthusiasm  its 
true  feeling  towards  the  free  United  States." 

Dr.  M'CHntock  had  another  opportunity  of  expressing 
his  sense  of  the  duty  of  the  hour  in  a  meeting  of  Amer- 
icans, at  the  Grand  Hotel  du  Louvre,  on  the  29th  of 
May,  1 861.  His  speech  on  this  occasion  was  full  of  elo- 
quence and  courage,  but  indicated  his  opinion  that  the 
war  would  not  come  to  a  speedy  end.  Mr.  Dayton,  the 
American  minister  to  France,  Cassius  M.  Clay,  American 
envoy  to  Russia,  General  Fremont,  Mr.  Burlingame, 
and  Mr.  Elliot  C.  Cowdin  also  addressed  the  meeting. 
Dr.  M'Clintock  took  this  occasion  to  do  justice  to  the 
English  people.  "  I  have  no  fear,"  he  said, of  the  grand 
English  nation.  Its  voice  has  not  yet  been  heard.  When 
it  shall  be  uttered,  it  will  not  be  on  the  side  of  piracy  and 
slavery.  .  .  .  Old  England  will  stand  by  New  England  in 
the  battle  of  Christianity  and  civilization.  I  think  I  am 
right  in  this  prediction ;  but  if  I  am  wrong,  then  I  will 
agree  with  my  friend  that  the  glory  of  England  will  have 
departed  forever."  To  make  the  issue  clear  beyond 
doubt,  he  published  in  London  the  speech  of  A.  H.  Ste- 
phens, the  Vice-President  of  the  Confederacy,  delivered 
in  Savannah,  March  21,  1861,  in  which  slavery  was  de- 
clared the  corner-stone  of  the  new  government.  Prefixed 
to  the  speech  was  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  William  Arthur, 
explaining  the  legal  relation  of  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment to  slavery,  as  defined  by  the  National  Constitu- 
tion. The  pamphlet,  which  was  a  convincing  exposition 
of  our  case,  was  extensively  circulated. 

The  patriotic  Americans  who  were  in  Paris  in  the  spring 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTQCK.  289 

of  1 861  did  not,  however,  limit  their  zeal  to  public  break- 
fasts and  speeches.  A  subscription  list  was  opened,  and 
quickly  filled  up,  for  the  purchase  of  rifled  cannon,  to  be 
sent  to  the  Government  at  home  "  to  be  used  " —  so  ran 
the  statement  of  the  subscribers  to  the  fund — "  in  en- 
forcing the  laws  and  upholding  the  Constitution  of  the 
Union."  It  became  a  serious  question  with  Dr.  M'Clin- 
tock  how  to  procure  the  money  needed  for  such  expo- 
sitions of  the  merits  of  our  cause  as  would  help  to  correct 
the  errors  of  English  opinion.  His  friend,  Mr.  Thomas 
N,  Dale,  one  of  the  principal  supporters  of  the  Chapel, 
who  had  returned  to  New  York,  raised  there,  without 
delay,  a  considerable  sum  and  remitted  it  to  him. 

With  this  money  Dr.  M'Clintock  published,  in  Lon- 
don, De  Gasparin's  timely  book,  "  The  Uprising  of  a 
Great  People,"  translating  it  himself.  Americans  cannot 
forget  the  impression  produced  by  that  eloquent  plea  for 
our  Union,  both  in  America  and  in  Europe.  Even  in 
circles  where  it  did  not  convince,  it  checked  the  forma- 
tion of  hasty  judgments.  It  lifted  our  cause  far  above 
the  level  of  a  political  strife,  and  presented  it  as  a  strug- 
gle for  the  preservation  of  the  best  elements  of  civiliza- 
tion in  the  New  World.  ^'  We  are  concerned,"  wrote 
this  brilliant  Frenchman,  ''in  the  American  crisis.  Not 
simply  because  we  may  have  friends,  or  trade,  or  property 
in  America,  but,  above  all,  because  ozir  principles  and  our 
liberties  are  there  at  stake.  The  victories  of  justice,  on 
whatever  soil  they  may  have  been  gained,  are  the  victo- 
ries of  the  whole  human  race."    With  De  Gasparin  Dr. 

M'Clintock  corresponded  during  all  this  gloomy  period. 
19 


290  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

When  the  unlucky  capture  of  Mason  and  Slidell  brought 
fonvard  De  Gasparin  again,  as  our  advocate,  Dr.  M'CHn- 
tock  translated  and  pubHshed  his  Word  of  Peace  on 
the  American  Question,"  and  circulated  it  as  extensively 
as  possible  throughout  England. 

Our  countr^^men  in  London  had  almost  determined  to 
let  the  fourth  of  July,  1861,  pass  by  without  any  observ- 
ance, but  fortunately  better  counsels  prevailed.  The  more 
sagacious  felt  the  importance  of  declaring  to  the  world 
on  this  day  that  Americans  had  confidence  in  the  future 
of  their  country,  and  bated  not  one  jot  of  heart  or  hope 
in  upholding  its  fortunes.  About  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty assembled  in  the  Colonnade  Hotel.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Wm.  Patton  presided ;  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Baptist  Noel 
represented  the  English  Non-conformists.  Dr.  M'Clin- 
tock,  in  his  address,  made  prominent  the  distinction, 
which  was  always  present  to  his  mind,  between  the  real 
and  the  official  England.  It  is,"  he  said,  because  we 
love  England  that  we  are  anxious  to  hear  kind  words  from 
England.  Sorrowful  as  are  the  circumstances  attending 
our  national  anniversary  on  this  occasion,  never  on  any 
happy  fourth  of  July  at  home,  never  in  those  halcyon 
days  of  peace,  have  I  been  prouder  of  my  countrymen  ; 
for  they  have  shown  fidelity  to  great  principles,  to  the 
memory  of  Washington,  and  to  the  heritage  of  freedom 
which  God  has  given  them.  They  are  fighting  because 
they  have  a  flag  which  has  been  dishonored,  a  constitu- 
tion that  has  been  trampled  upon,  and  a  history  that  has 
been  thrown  to  the  winds.  They  have  grand  memories 
which  the  bulk  of  the  community  have  never  forgotten, 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  29I 

and  a  nationality  which  they  mean  to  maintain.  They 
are  fighting  now  to  show  that  they  have  a  government 
which  all  the  world  shall  recognize  in  the  end.  I  have  no 
doubt  on  which  side  the  victory  will  lie,  and  am  now 
prouder  and  more  hopeful  of  my  country  than  ever;  and 
I  am  sure,  too,  that  in  her  heart  of  hearts  England  is 
prouder  of  it  than  she  has  ever  been." 

These  were  the  words  of  a  brave  and  Christian  spirit, 
and  there  was  an  England  prepared  in  due  season  to  re- 
ceive them.  But  the  danger,  great  at  all  times  during 
the  war,  of  foreign  complications,  became  imminent 
when  Mason  and  Slidell  were  taken  from  the  English 
steamer  Trent,  by  Commodore  Wilkes.  The  English 
Government  could  not  believe  that  Commodore  Wilkes 
acted,  in  arresting  the  commissioners,  without  instruc- 
tions, and  they  concluded  at  once  that  Mr.  Seward 
meant  either  war  or  a  menace  of  war. 

During  this  critical  period  the  Rev.  Wm.  Arthur  and 
Dr.  M'Clintock  corresponded  rapidly  in  relation  to  the 
intentions  of  the  American  Government.  The  former  was 
in  communication  with  leading  English  statesmen.  It 
was  agreed  at  a  consultation  held  by  our  leading  repre- 
sentatives in  Paris,  that  Mr.  Thurlow  W^eed  should  go 
over  from  that  city  to  London  and  have  an  interview  with 
men  whom  it  was  important  to  set  right.  Mr.  Weed 
took  with  him  a  letter  of  introduction  from  Dr.  M'Clin- 
tock to  Mr.  Arthur,  which  was  of  great  service,  as  will  be 
seen  further  on.  Here,  as  all  through  the  war,  Mr.  Ar- 
thur showed  himself  a  devoted  friend  to  the  United 
States.    He  was,  and  is,  an  Englishman  in  every  fibre  of 


292 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


his  nature,  but  he  was  also  a  lover  of  liberty,  of  right, 
and  of  peace.  The  letters  which  passed  between  him 
and  Dr.  M'Clintock  during  the  Trent  negotiations  do 
honor  to  them  both.  The  two  friends  might  on  many 
points  disagree,  but  they  could  not  for  a  moment  dis- 
trust each  other's  sincerity. 

Paris,  Sunday  Nigut,  Jxily  1, 1860. 

It  is  now  about  half-past  two  o'clock,  or  perhaps  three,  in  New 
York,  and  you  are  getting  ready  to  go  to  the  communion  at  St. 
Paul's.  We  have  been  twice  to  church.  The  first  service  was  at 
half-past  eleven  o'clock.  Mr.  Longacre  read  prayers  and  preached, 
and  he  and  I  administered  the  communion.  It  was  nearly  two 
o'clock  when  we  got  home.  At  half- past  three  I  preached  on  Romans 
xii,  I.  The  gown  rustled  a  little  at  first,  but  I  soon  forgot  it  entirely. 
There  were  many  home  faces  :  Mr.  Corbitt,  Mr.  Newman,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wright,  and  perhaps  twenty  others.  It  was  not  St.  Paul's  ;  I 
could  not  see  your  faces,  so  near  the  pulpit,  and  always  so  kind  and 
loving.  But  I  tried  to  preach  a  plain  and  earnest  Gospel,  and  I  think 
a  good  impression  was  made.  Mr.  Longacre  has  won  golden  opin- 
ions, as,  indeed,  I  knew  he  could  not  fail  to  do.  There  is  a  great 
field  here  to  till.  If  we  can  only  make  the  different  denominations 
to  harmonize  quietly,  I  think  we  may  look  for  great  success. 

The  church  is  a  little  larger  than  our  chapel — perhaps  one  third — 
and  will  seat  some  six  hundred  persons.    I  hope  to  see  it  full. 

We  landed  at  Havre  on  Wednesday  morning  last  at  8  o'clock,  and 
had  a  delicious  breakfast  at  the  Hotel  Frascati.  It  took  me  till  four 
o'clock  to  get  the  luggage  through  the  Custom-house,  and  to  have 
the  passports  viseed.  At  six  we  set  out  for  Rouen,  and  reached 
there  at  eight  o'clock,  thus  dividing  the  journey  to  Paris  on  account 
of  the  baby.  The  little  swinging  cradle  attended  us  all  the  way,  and 
was  an  object  of  great  interest  to  the  officials  at  the  Custom-house 
and  railways.  Men  in  soldier  clothes  would  look  at  it,  make  it  go,  and 
laugh.    It  seems  to  be  a  new  invention  here. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


293 


We  reached  Paris  at  five  o'clock,  Thursday,  and  found  our  old 
apartments  at  the  Hotel  de  Lille  et  d'Albion.  A  great  part  of  our 
time  since  has  been  spent  house-hunting,  but  we  have  not  decided  on 
anything  yet.  We  hope  to  be  settled  next  week,  but  it  is  uncertain. 
There  are  to  be  immense  parades  this  week,  at  the  funeral  of  Jerome 
Napoleon,  who  now  lies  in  state  at  the  Palais  Royal.  The  crowds 
visiting  him  are  so  great  that  we  have  not  been  able  to  get  in  yet, 
and  I  suppose  we  shall  not. 

0  I  dear,  I  wish  you  were  as  near  us  as  you  are  to  the  parsonage. 
Perhaps  you  are  in  heart  and  feeling,  if  not  in  person.  At  any  rate 
we  feel  quite  near  you.  But  God,  our  trust,  is  nearer  yet ;  may  he 
protect  you  and  yours,  and  grant  you  all  temporal  and  spiritual  bless- 
ings in  Christ  Jesus ! 

To  Mr.  Fletcher  Harper. 

Paris,  July  30,  1S60. 

Our  domestic  establishment  goes  on  nicely,  but  we  are  not  yet 
permanently  settled.  At  the  end  of  two  months  we  shall  leave  our 
present  home,  unless  the  landlord  comes  down  in  price.  In  this  last 
case  we  shall  stay  where  we  are. 

1  trust  Mr.  Longacre  and  I  will  be  able  to  make  the  American 
Chapel  go.  At  all  events  we  shall  tr)'.  Can't  you  help  us Can't 
you  give  Dr.  Murray  room  in  the  "  Weekly  "  or  "  Monthly  "  for  a 
short  account  of  the  chapel,  stimulating  Americans  to  rally  around 
it  ?   All  means  must  be  used  to  accomplish  our  end  of  building  it  up. 

I  have  sent  an  installment  for  the  dictionar\',  and  shall  send  small 
parcels  by  each  steamer,  to  run  as  little  risk  of  loss  as  possible. 

Now  I  pray  you  sit  down  at  once  as  soon  as  you  get  this  and  reply 
to  it.  Tell  me  all  your  household  news.  Remember  me  most  af- 
fectionately to  Mrs.  Harper,  your  sons  and  daughters,  and  don't  let 
the  grand-children  forget  me. 

To  Mr.  C.  C.  North. 

Paeis,  August  4,  1S60. 

Our  new  order  of  worship  will  go  into  force  next  Sunday.  I  hope 
it  will  succeed  fully.    Nearly  every  body  here  is  satisfied,  now,  that 


294 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


things  look  so  prosperous  with  the  existing  order.  But  we  look  for 
hearty  co-operation  from  all  sides  hereafter.  Each  side  gives  up 
something  for  the  sake  of  harmony.    So  we  must  all  do  in  this  world. 

Mrs.  M'Clintock  is  somewhat  better  than  when  I  wrote  last.  My 
own  health  seems  to  be  constantly  improving.  I  have  had  to  keep 
on  the  run  since  I  have  been  here,  and  this  activity,  with  the  cool, 
bracing  weather  we  have  had  all  the  time,  has  done  me  great  good. 

To  Mrs.  Dr.  A.  S.  Purdy. 

Pakts,  Angunt  14,  15C0. 

Your  letters  are  like  springs  of  water  in  a  dry  and  thirsty  land. 
The  minute  account  you  give  of  Church  matters  is  just  exactly  what 
I  want  to  get :  and  no  one  else  will  do  it  but  you,  so  please  continue 
to  "walk  by  the  same  rule  and  mind  the  same  thing." 

My  jaw  opens  nearly  as  well  as  ever ;  my  general  health  is  better 
than  it  has  been  for  years — thanks  to  the  cool  weather  and  constant 
out-door  exercise.  We  have  not  yet  had  a  hot  day :  warm  clothes, 
overcoats  when  driving,  two  blankets  at  night.  On  no  day  yet  have 
we  been  able  to  keep  a  window  in  the  house  open,  or  to  wear  sum- 
mer clothes  of  any  kind. 

How  often  I  wish  the  doctor  could  come  in  to  take  a  quiet  rest, 
chat,  and  smoke.  How  often  after  our  meetings  we  wish  for  your 
happy  and  loving  face  to  cheer  us  up.  But  we  must  do  withooit  these 
blessings ;  thank  God  for  what  we  have  enjoyed,  and  hope  for  re- 
union in  the  future,  both  in  this  life  and  in  the  next. 

We  have  not  yet  decided  whether  to  stay  in  our  present  quarters 
or  to  move.  But  we  must  settle  it  this  week,  after  that  we  shall  feel 
more  like  living.  It  is  very  comfortable  where  we  are,  but  $i,6oo  is 
a  large  price  for  two  floors,  and  it  makes  a  big  hole  in  a  salary  of 
S3,ooo. 

Dr.  Adams  preached  for  me  last  Sunday  morning.  It  seems  like 
home  to  have  the  pastors  of  Madison  Square  and  St.  Paul's  in  one 
pulpit  together.  We  are  all  to  spend  this  evening  together  at  Mr. 
Faulkner's,  (the  ambassador,)  who,  with  his  family,  are  among  our 
most  devoted  adherents  at  the  Chapel. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


295 


To  Mr.  C.  C.  North. 

Paeis,  Aiigmt  29,  1860. 

I  send  this  sheet  to  show  how  our  programme  goes.  We  omitted 
by  accident  to  insert,  "  Under  the  control  of  the  American  and 
Foreign  Christian  Union,"  but  that  will  be  inserted  in  the  next 
that  are  printed.  Circulars  will  be  sent  weekly  to  all  strangers, 
according  to  the  list  of  arrivals.  I  have  to  attend  to  these 
matters  myself,  with  Mr.  Tucker's  help.  I  hope  to  get  some 
of  the  young  men  trained  to  these  duties,  and  to  general 
deaconship.  Three  persons  have  offered  themselves  for  Church 
membership.  I  shall  procure  a  book,  put  their  names  down,  and 
take  all  others  that  offer.  Pray  God  to  bless  the  American  Church 
in  Paris !    It  is  a  pity  that  the  word  chapel  was  used  at  first. 

To  Mrs.  Dr.  Purdy. 

Pakis.  Septemher  8, 1860. 

Though  I  have  answered  your  letter  I  write  again.  I  suppose  that 
before  this  can  reach  you,  we  shall  get  another  from  you — at  least  I 
hope  so.  It  seems  a  long  time  to  wait  for  letters.  Don't  always 
wait  till  you  get  them  from  me  before  you  write. 

We  had  not  settled  upon  our  new  home  when  I  last  wrote.  I  have 
given  Dr.  Purdy  a  sketch  of  it  which  will  let  you  see  exactly  how  we 
are  situated.  It  is  clean  and  comfortable,  but  by  no  means  grand. 
Still  I  am  sure  you  would  enjoy  coming  to  visit  us  in  it ;  and  we 
should  give  you  the  best  bed,  the  best  board,  and  the  best  of  ever)- 
thing  in  the  house.  When  will  you  come?  When  will  you  let  the 
doctor  come  if  you  cant't  both  come  together.?  It  is  now  nearly 
three  months  since  we  left  you — it  seems  like  a  year.  Part  of  this 
feeling  is  doubtless  due  to  the  many  novelties  of  life  here,  to  the  mul- 
titude of  people  we  have  seen,  the  new  acquaintances  made,  etc. ;  but 
a  great  deal  of  it  is  owing  to  the  want  of  the  dear  friends  Vv'e  have  left 
behind  us.  We  are  too  old  (the  truth  must  be  spoken)  to  form  new 
ties  rapidly.  And  then  our  new  friends  here,  though  kind  and  good, 
are  not  Methodists,  and  that  is  a  great  bond  of  union  missing.  A 


296 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


Methodist  preacher  can  make  friends  readily  among  Methodists,  but 
not  so  readily  elsewhere.  Nevertheless  you  must  not  understand  me 
as  hinting  that  we  are  not  kindly  received.  The  very  reverse  is  the 
case.  There  are  only  too  many  invitations  out.  To-day,  for  instance, 
I  must  g-o  out  to  dinner  at  half-past  six  P.  M.  and  not  get  home  till 
ten  ;  and  I  should  greatly  prefer  to  spend  the  time  by  my  own  fire- 
side, and  wTiting  a  better  letter  to  you.  So  also  we  have  visits  from 
many  American  travellers.  Thus  far,  among  them  all,  there  have 
been  no  St.  Paul's  people  but  Mr.  Pine,  the  artist.  He  lunched  with 
us  last  Sunday.  Mr.  Newman  is  to  preach  for  us  to-morrow  morn- 
ing, and  Mr.  Longacre  will  preach  in  the  afternoon,  so  that  I  shall 
have  a  day  of  rest — only  reading  prayers  in  the  morning. 

Su7iday  afteritoo^. — I  was  interrupted  yesterday.  This  morning  I 
read  prayers  and  Mr.  Newinan  preached  on  the  "  Millennium."  This 
afternoon  Mr.  Longacre  preached  on  "  Occupy  till  I  come."  We  have 
had  a  very  good  day,  but  I  always  feel  strange  on  Sunday  night  when 
I  have  not  preached  at  all  during  the  day. 

I  thought  a  good  deal  about  your  father  yesterday.  Pray  don't 
fail  to  give  my  best  love  to  your  mother  and  sister  when  you  see 
them.  As  for  your  own  household,  1  take  it  for  granted  you  always 
give  all  our  kindest  love  when  you  hear  from  us,  for  we  always  mean 
to  send  it.  Do  tell  the  young  people  to  write  to  us  ;  and  for  all  your 
little  folks,  don't  let  them  forget  us,  or  grow  out  of  their  former  selves 
before  the  Lord  allows  us  to  go  back  and  see  them.  Perhaps  some 
day  we  shall  all  sit  together  around  your  table,  as  of  old  ;  if  not,  may 
we  all  unite  around  our  Father's  table  in  heaven  ! 

Your  letter  gave  us  more  church  news  than  we  have  had  from  any 
other  quarter.  Don't  stop  in  the  good  way,  but  give  us  just  such 
another  budget  as  often  as  you  can.  If  you  were  here  we  should  get 
up  a  class  of  young  ladies  for  you,  and  1  am  sure  you  would  do  them 
good. 

It  is  now  dinner  time,  and  I  must  stop.  O  dear  !  if  we  could  have 
one  of  the  St.  Paul's  Sunday  evenings,  and  have  the  doctor  and  you 
with  us,  and  the  children  together !  Well,  let  us  thank  God  for  the 
blessings  we  have  had  and  still  have. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


297 


To  Mr.  C.  C.  North. 

Paris,  Sepiemher  10,  1S60. 

After  a  great  deal  of  trouble  and  loss  of  time,  we  are  at  last  com- 
fortably settled  in  our  home.  Please  direct  letters,  10  Rue  Balzac 
hereafter,  instead  of  care  of  J.  Munroe  &  Co. 

Your  kind  letter  of  August  8th  was  a  great  comfort  to  me.  I  have 
also  had  a  very  kind  one  from  Dr.  Campbell,  who  says  "  there  is  no 
doubt  the  arrangement  about  services  will  please  the  Board."  I  hope 
soon  to  hear  of  their  action  confirming  what  I  have  done. 

Last  Sunday  we  had  grand  congregations.  Brother  Newman 
preached  in  the  morning.  Dr.  Keith,  of  Scotland  ;  Dr.  Thomwell, 
of  South  Carolina ;  Rev.  Mr.  Armstrong,  of  Nashville ;  and  several 
Roman  Catholics,  were  in  the  congregation.  In  the  afternoon  Long- 
acre  preached  a  noble  sermon  on  "  Occupy  till  I  come." 

I  find  a  vast  deal  of  running  to  do  to  visit  strangers.  It  takes  a 
deal  of  time  and  cab-hire ;  but  it  is  good  for  the  Church  and  good 
for  my  health.  I  am  better,  on  the  whole,  I  think,  than  I  have  been 
since  1850. 

Paris,  Junuary  T,  1861. 

A  happy  New  Year  !  and  may  you  have  it  such  in  spite  of  panics, 
disunion,  and  civil  war.  Here  we  cannot  think  it  possible  that  mad- 
ness will  so  far  prevail  among  you  as  to  break  up  the  Government. 

I  have  good  news  from  the  Chapel — Mr.   partook  of  his  first 

communion  on  Christmas  day.  A  great  change  has  been  going  on 
in  him  for  some  months,  and  he  is  now  living  for  the  glory  of  God. 
This  blessed  result  is  due  largely  to  Mr.  Longacre,  who  has  been 
greatly  useful  to  him  and  his  family. 

A  work  of  grace  is  going  on  in  the  hearts  of  other  persons  here — 
some  men  of  mark.    We  thank  God  and  take  courage. 

I  shall  stay  here  as  long  as  the  signs  of  success  are  as  encourag- 
ing as  they  now  are,  and  as  long  as  my  purse  will  hold  out.  The 
outlay,  however,  is  more  than  I  can  stand  under,  with  my  family 
claims ;  and  I  have  so  informed  the  gentlemen  who  support  the 
Church. 


298 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


My  knee  still  continues  bad.  I  cannot  walk,  but  am  able  to  ride 
to  Church,  and  preach  sitting  on  a  stool. 

To  Mr.  Lemuel  Bajigs. 

Parw,  Januitry  8, 1861. 
Are  you  scared  out  of  your  wits  in  New  York  }  One  would  think 
so  to  judge  from  the  papers.  If,  as  the  telegraph  reports  to  us  to- 
day, Mr.  Buchanan  has  allowed  Fort  Moultrie  to  be  given  up,  you 
have  doubtless,  ere  this  time,  sought  to  have  him  impeached.  The 
French  press,  like  the  English,  is  terribly  severe  on  the  South.  The 
slaveholders  have  no  friends  in  this  world  except  in  the  Northern 
States  of  the  American  Union.  Should  the  secession  be  finally  achiev- 
ed, there  will  still  be  cakes  and  ale,  and  ginger  will  continue  "to  be 
hot  i'  the  mouth."  Therefore  I  pray  you,  of  all  things,  not  to  be 
frightened.  If  things  get  so  bad  that  I  can  draw  no  more  money 
from  New  York,  I  must  pack  up  and  go  home,  bag  and  baggage.  It 
will  be  pleasanter  to  stan  e  there  than  here. 

Paris,  February  18,  1861. 

Your  political  news  is  not  very  encouraging;  but  nations,  like  in- 
dividuals, must  have  their  trials.  Their  length  of  life  depends  on 
their  force  to  grapple  with  difficulties  and  overcome  them.  If  the 
Government  maintains  itself,  all  will  be  well ;  if  not,  there  will  be  an- 
archy for  years.  But  it  can  hardly  be  possible  that  the  men  of  the 
North,  no  matter  of  what  party,  will  let  the  Government  go  down  ; 
or,  what  is  the  same  thing,  let  it  remain  what  Buchanan  has  made  it 
— a  mere  pretence. 

The  feeling  in  France,  as  well  as  in  England,  against  the  South  is 
really  terrible.  No  journal  in  France,  except  the  Pays,  has  dared  to 
argue  in  favor  of  slavery.  We  are  very  anxious  here  about  ministers 
and  consuls.  London,  Liverpool,  Paris,  and  Havre  should  all  be 
filled  with  vigorous  men.  Things  will  be  left  in  a  sad  condition,  I 
fear,  by  some  of  our  present  diplomatic  and  consular  agents.  The 
English  and  French  Governments  are  willing  to  do  right,  but  the 
American  ambassadors,  who  talk  to  them,  are  either  not  Union  men 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


299 


at  all,  or  are  very  timid  ones.  I  hope  these  posts  will  be  promptly 
and  well  filled  by  Mr.  Lincoln. 

Our  church  was  full  yesterday,  in  spite  of  the  number  that  have 
gone  home. 

Paris,  March  30,  1S61. 

We  are  in  a  state  of  great  anxiety  and  uncertainty  about  affairs  at 
home.  The  news  of  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter  and  Fort  Brown 
has  just  reached  us.  The  first  feeling  was  that  of  shame  and  indig- 
nation that  the  great  Government  of  the  United  States  should  be 
brought  to  such  a  pass  as  this.  We  are  not  proud  fiow  to  call  our- 
selves Americans.  It  may  be  that  our  pride  needs  punishing,  and 
that  God  intends  to  humble  us  in  order  to  raise  us  up  again.  Some 
people  here  say  that  the  next  news  will  be  that  you  have  surrendered 
the  Government  at  Washington  to  Jefferson  Davis,  and  have  all  be- 
come his  submissive  subjects. 

But  I  drop  this  painful  topic.  The  spring  has  been  lovely  here  for 
a  month.  The  shrubs  are  all  in  green,  the  earlier  flowers  are  all  in 
bloom,  the  birds  wake  us  early  with  their  singing.  In  spite  of  all 
troubles  and  sorrows  it  is  spring  time  in  our  souls,  too.  God  blesses 
his  word,  preached  poorly  enough,  but  in  faith  and  love.  Souls  have 
been  blessed  under  it.  I  thank  him  for  the  fruit  which  I  can  see  ;  I 
have  no  doubt,  that,  in  his  mercy,  there  is  a  great  deal  which  I  can- 
not see.  In  this  respect  I  thank  God  for  sending  me  here.  With  re- 
gard to  my  health,  also,  I  have  great  reason  for  gratitude. 

Mr.  Longacre  has  been  in  Italy  for  a  month  past,  and  I  have  had 
full  charge  of  both  services  each  Sunday,  with  no  one  even  to  read  a 
hymn  for  me.  As  I  have  to  read  prayers  at  a  quarter  past  eleven, 
and  sing,  pray,  and  preach  at  twelve,  it  is  nearly  equivalent,  with  the 
afternoon  service  and  sermon,  to  three  sermons  a  day.  Yet  I  have 
been  able  to  do  it  all  without  any  injury  to  my  throat,  thank  God  !  It 
may  be  that  I  shall  be  able  to  return  home  strong  enough  to  take  full 
charge  of  a  Church,  and  if  so,  my  highest  ambition  will  be  gratified. 
My  knee  improves  very  slowly.  I  can  walk  about  half  a  mile,  but 
still  have  to  sit  in  preaching. 


300 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


To  the  Rev.  Andrew  Longacre. 

London,  Tuesday,  Ai)ril  80,  lS6t. 
It  has  been  an  incessant  stream  of  dinners,  teas,  breakfast  meet- 
ings, sermons,  and  speeches,  so  that  we  could  not  write.  .  .  .  Dined 
on  Tuesday,  with  about  fifty  people,  at  Mr.  M'Arthur's  ;  on  Saturday 
with  about  twenty  at  Mr.  Lycett's.  Heard  Punshon,  on  Wednesday, 
at  Great  Green-street :  and  sat  in  a  great  draft  which  gave  me  a  sore 
throat.  Spoke  at  4  P.  M.  in  Exeter  Hall,  after  the  people  had  been 
sitting  there  from  ten  o'clock — more  politics  than  missions  in  the 
speech.  The  principal  result  of  my  efforts  is  the  sore  throat  afore- 
said, which,  I  fear,  will  not  leave  me  till  we  get  out  of  the  cold,  dull 
London  air.  After  the  dinner  Dr.  Hoole,  Mr.  Arthur,  and  I  got  into 
a  clarence  and  drove  out  to  Richmond,  ten  miles,  to  dine  with  Mr. 
Hall,  Mr.  Farmer's  son-in-law.  It  was  really  one  of  the  grandest 
dinners  I  ever  saw.  The  English  people  are  all  right,  thus  far,  in 
feeling,  on  the  American  question.  But  they  are  awfully  ignorant  of 
American  facts.  A  very  intelligent  gentleman  asked  me  if  Massa- 
chusetts was  among  the  seceding  States  !  Even  Dr.  S.  seemed  to 
think  the  tariff  question  had  as  much  to  do  with  the  rebellion  as 
slavery.    I  have  tried  to  set  them  right.  . 

To  Mr.  Lemuel  BaJtgs. 

Paeis,  May  16, 1861. 

I  am  working  very  hard  just  now,  rapidly  translating  Gasparin's 
"  Un  Grand  Peuple."  But  I  suffer  for  want  of  money.  My  corre- 
spondence and  writings  of  every  kind  are  heavy.  I  could  do  a  great 
deal  more  if  I  had  free  command  of  money.  If  any  of  your  patriots, 
or  committees,  can  help  us,  I  will  do  all  that  is  possible  with  the  press 
here  and  in  England. 

Paris,  May  80,  1861. 

The  Government  does  not  seem  to  appreciate  the  absolute  necessity 
of  giving  everybody  something  to  do.  So  much  enthusiasm  will  cer- 
tainly spoil  unless  people  are  kept  busy.  Turning  back  volunteers 
and  disbanding  regiments  don't  seem  the  thing — especially  when  the 
crack  Seventh  has  only  enlisted  for  thirty  days.    Our  meeting  at  the 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLIXTOCK. 


301 


Louvre  yesterday  was  a  grand  success.  Dayton  has  raised  himself 
greatly  here  by  his  speeches.  Fremont  also  spoke  nobly— as,  indeed, 
did  everybody ;  even  your  humble  servant  did  his  best.  The  enthu- 
siasm frightened  the  Frenchmen  who  were  present. 

I  feel  tempted  to  go  home  by  ever)-  steamer.  Did  I  not  think  I  am 
doing  more  good,  both  in  Church  and  State,  by  staying  here,  I  should 
go  in  the  next  steamer. 

To  his  son,  in  Germany. 

London,  April  30,  1S61. 

As  for  your  proposition  to  go  a  soldiering,  I  like  your  pluck  veiy 
well,  and  if  I  had  five  sons,  or  even  two  or  three,  I  should  probably 
feel  it  my  duty  to  say  yes.  But  as  you  are  my  sole  masculine  heir  in 
this  world,  I  do  not  think  it  your  duty  to  go,  or  mine  to  let  you  go.  T 
am  growing  older,  if  not  old,  and  am  not  ven,-  robust.  In  the  order 
of  Providence  you  may  have  yet  to  take  care  of  me  and  of  your  sis- 
ters. Others  can  go  who  are  differently  situated,  and  there  will  be 
plenty  of  such.  You  and  I,  perhaps,  can  serve  the  country  as  well 
here  as  if  we  were  to  go  to  the  wars.  I  laid  down  some  pretty 
strong  meat  for  them  at  Exeter  Hall,  as  you  will  see  in  the  report,  if 
it  is  full. 

Paris,  Saturday,  Moy  18, 18G1. 
Between  you  and  me  and  the  post,  I  fear  a  re-action  at  home  before 
hot  weather,  if  the  troops  are  kept  simply  on  the  defensive.  I  fear, 
too,  that  the  men  in  power  have  not  brains  nor  experience  enough  for 
the  emergency.  But  I  may  do  them  injustice ;  and  if  the  war  goes 
on,  men  enough  with  brains  enough  will  spring  up.  England  con- 
tinues to  act  shamefully.  Won't  we  pepper  and  salt  'em  with  sar- 
casm after  the  war  is  over  !  Won't  we  show  up  their  Pharisaical 
anti-slaveryism  ?  Mr.  Langdon  gave  last  night  (for  the  guns)  1,000 
francs  ;  Emmet,  1,000  ;  Curtis,  500  ;  Warden,  2,000  ;  Strong,  I  think, 
2,000;  M'Clintock,  100;  Longacre,  50;  Wendell,  500,  etc.  They 
will  probably  get  15,000  more  from  persons  not  present.  If  this  let- 
ter were  stretched  out  it  would  fill  two  sheets.  God  bless  you  !  Write 
oftener. 


302  '  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

Paris,  May  31,  1S61. 

I  send  you  Galignani,  containing  an  account  of  the  American 
meeting,  and  the  latest  telegrams.  1  wrote  the  resolutions  for  the 
meeting  :  hope  you  will  like  them.  I  also  made  a  speech,  but,  as 
I  did  not  write  it  out  it  could  not  be  given  in  to  the  paper  last 
night  as  the  others  were.  It  was  a  grand  meeting.  Mr.  Dayton  sat 
on  the  right  of  the  president,  I  on  his  left ;  Fremont  next  to  Dayton, 
Cassius  M.  Clay  next  to  me.  I  like  Clay  amazingly,  and  the  liking 
seems  to  be  mutual.  He  has  one  of  the  sweetest  and  most  be- 
nevolent faces  I  ever  saw — quite  different  from  the  truculent  being 
the  southern  papers  make  him  out.  Dayton  made  a  grand  impres- 
sion ;  I  think  he  will  make  the  same  impression  on  the  emperor.  If 
he  had  a  good  secretary  of  legation  who  knew  French,  he  would  get 
on  ver)^  well  indeed. 

To  Mr.  C.  C.  North. 

Paris,  June  19, 1861. 

Of  course,  in  these  times,  the  Chapel  has  caused  me  a  great  deal 
of  anxiety.  Many  of  our  pewholders  have  gone  to  America,  and  few 
have  come  to  take  their  places.  Yet  our  congregations  are  as  good 
as  ever.  This  is  caused  by  the  number  who  come  in  from  other 
parts  of  Europe,  to  be  nearer  the  news  from  home,  and  to  be  ready 
to  go  home  if  necessar)-.  These  persons  do  not  take  pews,  but  it  is 
a  blessing  the  Chapel  is  there  for  them.  Thus  far  the  treasurer  has 
been  able  to  pay  my  salar)-  punctually  ever)-  month  out  of  the  re- 
ceipts, but  I  have  no  idea  this  can  last. 

I  shall  need  to  be  away  in  England  two  to  four  Sundays  at  least 
during  the  summer.  I  consider  the  Chapel  my  first  duty,  and  patri- 
otism the  next.  Thus  far  I  have  sought  to  do  my  whole  duty  to  both, 
and  God  has  given  me  more  physical  strength  than  I  had,  to  do  the 
duties  that  have  fallen  on  me.  I  shall  not  give  up  the  Chapel  unless 
Providence  clearly  indicates  that  it  is  my  duty  to  do  so. 

To  his  Soil,  Eino7'y  M ' Clintock. 

Paris,  July  8,  1861. 

The  Times  contains  a  short  account  of  our  breakfast.  As  you  see 
it,  I  did  not  post  it  to  you.  The  London  American  of  this  week  will 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


303 


contain  a  full  account,  and  you  will  get  it.  The  meeting  was  a  great 
success,  and  did  much  good  in  England.  Noel's  speech  was  really- 
grand  and  statesmanlike.  Every  body  in  England  is  trying  to  prove 
how  friendly  they  have  been  to  us  all  along.  They  are  right  in  feel- 
ing, but  most  of  the  people  are  so  ignorant  of  foreign  affairs  that  the 
Government  can  make  them  believe  anything.  At  present  I  think  the 
Government  is  all  right.  I  think  Adams  suits  them  very  well.  He  is  a 
cold,  cautious  man — very  much  of  an  Englishman  himself — and  really 
will  do  more  good  there  than  a  man  of  more  impulsive  nature  could  do. 

Paris,  July  15,  1861. 

The  newspapers  lead  us  to  believe  there  is  a  chance  of  a  compro- 
mise with  the  rebels.  I  hope  not,  if  it  be  an  arrangement  which 
will  make  it  necessary-  for  us  to  go  through  all  this  trouble  again  in  a 
few  years.  It  ought  to  be  settled  now  and  forever,  after  all  the  sac- 
rifices we  have  been  compelled  to  make. 

Paris,  July  27,  1S61. 

Bishop  Janes  has  spent  three  days  of  this  week  here.  He  was  all 
for  my  going  to  West  Point  before  he  left  America,  but  since  he  has 
been  here,  and  has  seen  the  new  ambassadors  at  our  different  posts, 
nearly  all  of  whom  have  heard  me  preach  and  know  me  personally, 
he  thinks  I  ought  to  stay  here.*  The  question  will  be  settled  in  a  few 
weeks  one  way  or  the  other. 

The  bishop  enjoyed  his  stay  here  hugely.  His  brother  Edwin  and 
Dr.  Jacoby  were  with  him,  and  I  rode  about  with  him  all  the  time, 
showing  him  the  sights. 

"  Gasparin  "  makes  a  neat  little  volume.  I  would  send  it  by  post, 
but  as  you  will  return  so  soon  it  is  not  worth  the  postage.  It  must 
do  good  in  England.  The  World  credits  me  with  writing  an  able  ar- 
ticle in  LAinide  la  Religion,  which  was  really  written  by  Delavile, 
an  able  lawyer  here.    I  am  sorry  for  this. 

*TIie  cliaplaincy  of  West  Point  had  been  offered  to  Dr.  ^['Clmtock,  btit 
after  consideration  the  offer  was  declined. 


304 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


Parr,  July  2S,  1S61. 

I  am  amused,  and  at  the  same  time  pleased,  by  your  anxiety  that  I 
should  not  give  much  time  to  politics.  In  the  first  place  the  preser- 
vation of  the  Government  is  not  politics,  in  the  ordinar}-  sense  of  the 
word.  If  the  Government  is  lost,  all  is  lost — family.  Church,  prop- 
erty— ever}  thing.  In  such  a  crisis  as  this  I  hold  it  the  duty  of  every 
man  who  has  any  influence,  to  use  it  on  the  side  of  law  and  order. 
If  not,  the  wicked  will  prevail:  God's  law  and  all  justice  will  be 
trampled  under  foot.  In  the  second  place,  I  have  not  given  so  much 
time  as  you  think,  even  to  this  great  duty.  I  have  never  neglected 
my  duty  to  the  Chapel  in  any  degree.  I  have  been  absent  but  two 
Sundays  for  months,  and  but  once  from  prayer-meeting,  unless  when 
my  throat  was  too  sore  to  go.  I  am  thankful  to  say  that  my  health 
enables  me  to  do  these  duties  without  inconvenience.  I  have 
preached  twice  the  last  two  Sundays,  besides  reading  prayers,  with- 
out injuring  my  throat.  The  congregations  are  remarkable,  consid- 
ering how  many  have  gone  home.  Bishop  Janes  thinks  I  had  better 
stay  here.  His  ideas  of  the  importance  of  this  work  are  greatly  in- 
creased since  he  has  been  here.  I  will  stay,  if  it  be  possible,  in  spite 
of  our  anxious  desire  to  see  you  all. 

?M^•.%,Jul>J  30,  1S61. 

I  am  rejoiced  to  learn  that  you  are  growing  in  grace  and  faith,  and 
in  the  comfort  which  faith  brings.  Our  religion  is  meant  to  make 
us  strong  in  such  times  as  these.  It  is  not  provided  merely  for 
calm  weather.  Faith  sees  the  sun  behind  the  clouds.  Brother  Ja- 
coby  was  talking  with  me  the  other  night  about  the  German  mis- 
sions, of  which  he  is  the  head,  and  of  the  probability  that  money 
from  home  would  fail.  "  But,"  said  he,  "  I  am  not  afraid  about  that. 
It  is  the  Lord's  work,  and  the  money  will  come  somehow."  He  lays 
all  his  care  upon  the  Lord,  and  sleeps  quietly.  Can  we  not  all  do 
this  ?  I  am  glad  to  trust  in  God.  During  all  the  fears  and  anxieties 
which  our  home  troubles  have  brought — and,  in  some  respects,  the 
anxieties  are  greater  for  us  so  far  away  than  for  you  at  home — I  have 
never  lost  a  night's  rest  on  account  of  them.   But  I  cannot  help  much 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


sorrow  of  heart  over  this  wicked  and  causeless  war.  To  think  of 
friends  ruined  in  circumstances,  of  many  gone  to  the  field  of  battle 
and  to  death,  of  the  arrest  of  religious  activities  and  missionary- 
movements  ;  these  things,  apart  from  my  own  personal  losses,  which 
are,  perhaps,  as  heavy  in  proportion  as  other  peoples',  are  enough  to 
pierce  one  through.  Judge  M'Lean  told  me  five  years  ago  that  all 
this  was  plotting  in  the  South,  but  I  could  hardly  believe  him.  Now 
it  has  come  to  pass  before  our  eyes.  But  nations,  like  individuals, 
must,  it  seems,  in  the  order  of  the  Divine  government,  have  their 
trials  and  purifications.  No  nation  in  history  has  escaped.  This  is 
our  trial.  I  believe  God  will  bring  us  out  of  it  purer  and  better  than 
we  have  ever  been.  This  is  the  time  to  believe  in  him  as  the  divine 
ruler  of  nations  and  of  men. 

Versailles,  S^pf ember  4,  1861. 

We  left  10  Rue  Balzac  on  Monday — sending  our  goods  to  the  new 
house,  and  the  family  to  our  summer  resting-place  in  Versailles.  We 
have  a  grand  old  apartment  on  the  third  floor  containing  ten  rooms, 
thoroughly  furnished  with  old  style  French  furniture  —  everything 
comfortable  and  nice.  No  carpets :  some  of  the  floors  are  waxed, 
others  are  tiled,  but  all  as  clean  as  a  pin.  Clocks  in  almost  every  room 
— and  very  elegant  ones,  too — writing  desks,  and,  in  fact,  eveiy  con- 
venience. I  really  think  this  plan  of  apartments  would  be  very  suc- 
cessful, if  once  fairly  introduced,  in  the  American  cities.  We  have 
the  gardens  of  the  palace  to  walk  in,  and  the  park  to  ride  in,  when- 
ever we  feel  rich  enough  to  pay  thirty  cents  an  hour  for  a  carriage.  I 
should  have  gone  to  Geneva  this  week  to  attend  the  Evangelical  Al- 
liance, but  my  knees  got  so  tired  with  the  moving  that  I  must  give 
them  a  week's  rest. 

We  expect  to  hear  by  Sunday  that  Washington  is  taken  by  the 
rebels.  There  is  great  incapacity  somewhere ;  but  it  will  all  come 
right  by  and  by.  I  have  no  fear  for  our  country  in  the  long  run.  But 
what  an  account  will  the  men  have  to  give  who  have  made  this  wick- 
ed rebellion  for  the  purpose  of  extending  human  slavery.  I  fear  there 
can  be  no  peace  in  America  while  the  cause  of  all  our  troubles  re- 
mains untouched. 
20 


3o6 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


To  Mr.  Leimiel  Bangs. 

Paris,  October  12,  1861. 
Emory,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  has  made  up  his  mind  to  go  to  the  wars. 
In  view  of  his  physique,  of  the  fact  of  his  being  my  only  son,  of  his 
talents  and  prospects  which  fit  him  to  work  better  for  usefulness  to 
his  country  and  the  world  in  other  lines  than  the  military,  I  do  not 
think  he  ought  to  go.  But  he  is  of  age,  and  must  decide  the  ques- 
tion for  himself.  I  have  written  to  the  War  Department,  sorrowfully 
enough,  asking  a  commission  for  him.  I  really  hope  they  will  not 
grant  it,  and  that  something  else  will  turn  up  to  employ  him.  I  fear 
he  will  be  invalided  upon  three  months  service,  if  not  killed.  But  the 
will  of  Providence  be  done.  He  has  studied  military  books  with  his 
usual  rapidity  of  apprehension,  and  could  probably  pass  an  exami- 
nation to  enter  M'Clellan's  staff,  if  he  could  get  a  chance.  Importu- 
nity, I  suppose,  secures  such  things,  and  importunity  alone,  with  suf- 
ficient influence  from  members  of  Coigress.  The  adhesion  of  the 
Orleans  princes  will  bring  up  that  whole  party,  which  is  very  power- 
ful in  France,  to  our  side  of  this  great  question  even  more  decidedly 
than  they  have  yet  been  with  us.  If  Prince  Napoleon  comes  home 
with  good  impressions,  he  Avill  carry  with  him  one  wing  of  the  Na- 
poleon party.  As  for  the  emperor  himself,  he  has  always  been  with 
us.  But  Thouvenel  is  very  ill  informed  on  our  affairs.  What  a 
pity  it  is  that  Mr.  Dayton  cannot  talk  the  question  over  with  him  ! 
The  Times,  you  see,  has  moderated  very  much  in  tone.  Lord  John 
Russell  declared  to  an  American  gentleman  privately,  last  week,  that 
they  had  not  the  slightest  idea  of  breaking  the  blockade,  or  of  inter- 
ferring  with  us  in  any  way. 

Paris,  November  15,  1861. 

Our  Church  goes  on  wonderfully  well,  in  spite  of  the  number  who 
have  left  for  home  in  consequence  of  the  war.  The  congregations 
are  excellent — better,  even,  for  the  last  few  weeks,  than  they  were 
before.  If  my  knee  would  allow  me  to  do  pastoral  visiting,  I  should 
feel  more  happy  in  my  work  :  but,  as  it  is,  I  try  to  do  my  duty  as  well 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLIXTOCK. 


307 


as  I  can,  and  am  not  unhappy.  But  if  the  way  were  open  how  glad- 
ly would  I  go  back  to  St.  Paul's  to  work  among  so  many  friends,  and 
praying  friends,  who  would  hold  up  my  hands  when  they  incline  to 
hang  down  !  I  hope  the  time  will  come  when  our  Discipline  will  be 
less  stringent  on  the  point  of  a  preacher's  stay  in  a  place  ;  but  it  will 
probably  not  be  in  our  time. 

I  see  that  Mr.  Matthias  has  gone  home.  He  was  my  first  presiding 
elder,  and  I  have  always  had  a  warm  feeling  toward  him  from  that 
day  to  this.  I  trust  his  family  is  provided  for.  We  are  all  passing 
away ;  may  we  be  gathered  together  in  our  Father's  house  above  P 

The  war,  I  oppose,  will  last  two  or  three  years  at  least.  I  hope 
the  northern  people  are  making  up  their  minds  to  that — for  if  they 
do  not  they  will  be  likely  to  be  disappointed.  Patience  and  persever- 
ance are  the  great  lessons  they  require  to  be  taught.  I  trust  the  end 
of  the  war  will  be,  at  least,  the  beginning  of  the  end  of  slaver}^  which 
has  caused  the  whole  trouble.   God  bless  you  all ! 

In  order  to  show  more  clearly  the  meaning  of  Dr. 
M'Clintock's  letters  in  relation  to  the  Trent  trouble, 
much  of  the  correspondence  of  this  date  between  him 
and  the  Rev.  Wm.  Arthur  is  here  inserted.  These  two 
friends  saw  the  misunderstanding  which  was  working 
mischief  in  the  minds  of  leading  men  of  the  two  nations, 
and  labored  assiduously  for  its  removal. 

The  Rev.  Wm.  Arthur  to  Dr.  M'Clintock. 

Noterriber  29,  1861. 

I  have  no  heart  for  public  affairs  just  now;  but  seldom  as  I  agree 
with  the  Times  its  money  article  of  to-day,  seems  so  exactly  to  ex- 
press the  universal  feeling  of  this  country  that  I  send  it.  As  I  al- 
ways said,  if  your  people  are  determined  to  make  an  enemy  of  En- 
gland they  can.  People  here  would  hate  a  fight  begun  when  your 
hands  are  full ;  but  if  you  force  it  on,  it  will  be  such  a  one  as  was 
never  seen.    This  has  always  been  my  testimony,  and  you  may  rely 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


upon  it.  The  idea  of  war  with  you  is  odious  to  our  people ;  but  if 
your  Government  only  shows  a  desire  for  peace,  I  have  no  fear  of 
ours. 

The  Rev.  Wm.  Arthur  to  Dr.  M'Clmtock. 

Noremhtr  30, 1S6I. 

I  cannot  mention  names,  but  I  know  upon  as  high  legal  authority 
as  can  be,  that  the  Times  account  of  the  opinion  of  the  law  officers 
is  perfectly  correct.  The  view  taken  is  this  :  The  American  Govern- 
ment is  as  well  versed  in  the  law  of  the  case  as  any  one ;  their  later 
writers  are  the  best ;  and  if  Commodore  Wilkes  acted  on  instructions 
in  taking  the  law  into  his  own  hands,  his  Government  means  war. 
The  law  authorities  have  no  shade  of  doubt  or  difference  on  the  ques- 
tion, "  Did  Wilkes,  or  did  he  not,  take  the  case  out  of  the  hands  of 
the  law  and  settle  it  by  violence?  "  I  do  not  speak  on  second-hand 
information  here. 

As  to  political  feeling  in  the  highest  quarters,  it  is  to  avoid  a  fight 
if  possible ;  but  a  strong  fear  prevails  that  Seward  wants  to  force 
England  into  it.  On  what  this  is  grounded  I  don't  know ;  but  on 
two  things  you  may  rely :  That  we  will  offer  no  provocation,  will 
make  no  grievance  beyond  what  loyal  opinion  decides  to  be  such,  and 
will  for  such  firmly  insist  on  reparation. 

Dr.  M'Clintock  to  the  Rev.  Wm.  Arthur. 

Paeis,  Novembtr  30, 1861. 
It  is  of  vital  and  pressing  importance  that  I  should  get  an  imme- 
diate answer  to  the  following  question  : — 

"  Does  the  British  cabinet  really  believe  that  Mr.  Seward  wishes 
to  have  war  with  England,  and  that  his  measures  are  intended  to 
provoke  \\}" 

If  you  can,  through  any  of  your  friends,  get  an  answer  to  this  that 
may  be  relied  on,  you  will  do  more  good  than  you  can  well  con- 
ceive. I  do  not  wish  my  name  mentioned,  nor  will  I  mention  yours 
in  return. 

The  converse  question,  "  Whether  the  British  cabinet  really  mean 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


309 


to  push  us  to  the  wall?  "  I  suppose  cannot  be  answered.  But  if  I 
can  get  a  sure  answer  as  to  the  first,  (and  I  see  no  reason  why  not,) 
it  will  go  a  great  way,  perhaps,  toward  preventing  things  from  rush- 
ing into  war  between  America  and  England — a  war  which  would  thrill 
the  master  of  evil  with  Satanic  joy. 

The  Rev.  Wm.  Arthur  to  Dr.  M'Clmtock. 

Decemher  2,  1S61. 

My  Saturday's  note  would  show  you  that  not  only  politicians  but 
lawyers  take  the  acts  of  your  Government  as  meaning  a  hostile  inten- 
tion. It  is  most  seriously  believed  on  all  hands  that  Seward  wishes  a 
war.    Why,  again  I  say,  I  do  not  know. 

As  to  our  Government  wishing  a  war,  it  is  out  of  the  question. 
Not  one  of  its  acts  gives  countenance  to  such  an  idea.  Neither  glory 
nor  gain  could  result  to  us. 

Personally  I  no  more  believe  that  your  Government  wishes  a  war 
than  ours,  but  I  can  hardly  find  a  man  to  agree  with  me.  Some  busy 
power  is  making  each  believe  that  the  other  is  a  secret  enemy.  If 
reasonable  proof  could  be  given  to  influential  men  that  Seward  does 
not  desire  to  make  capital  out  of  hostility  to  England,  it  would  do 
great  good.  Commodore  Wilkes  has  done  more  for  the  South  than 
ten  thousand  Slidells  and  Masons  could  have  done,  as  far  as  feeling 
on  this  side  is  concerned.  Would  it  do  any  good  if  I  had  an  intro- 
duction to  your  minister  here  ? 

Perhaps  I  go  too  far  in  saying  that  all  believe  that  Seward  really 
wishes  war,  most  do ;  but  those  who  know  better,  and  look  deeper, 
may  think  he  only  wishes  to  make  capital  out  of  a  show  of  menacing 
us,  and  this  is,  to  7nen,  the  more  offensive  supposition  of  the  two. 

Dr.  M  'C Unlock  to  the  Rev.  IVm.  Arthur. 

Paris,  December  2,  1S61. 

Try  to  look  at  this  grave  question  calmly — even  amid  the  tempest 
which  nas  been  got  up  in  England.  Put  the  two  following  points  to- 
gether— both  taken  from  the  Times  you  send  : — 

I.  The  money  article  says,  that  "  even  on  points  where  there  is  but 


310 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


a  small  doubt  in  their  favor,  that  doubt  should  be  conceded  to  the 
Washington  statesmen." 

2.  An  article  signed  "  Templar,"  on  page  eight  of"  the  same  Times, 
cites  Sir  W.  Scott  as  laying  down  that  "  you  may  stop  the  ambassa- 
dor of  your  enemy  on  his  passage."  An  article  signed  "Senex," 
on  the  same  page,  gives  the  same  point  more  at  length. 

Is  not  the  "  si7iall  doubt "  here  ?  But  instead  of  the  "  small  doubt," 
there  are  precedents  by  the  score  in  British  usage,  and  citations  mul- 
titudinous to  be  taken  from  English  law-books,  in  favor  of  the  pro- 
cedure in  the  case  of  the  Trent.  The  Star  s  quotations  from  Dr.  Phil- 
limore  are  alone  ample  to  furnish  a  complete  vindication  of  it.  If 
the  newspapers  are  correct,  your  law  officers  have  decided  that 
Wilkes  "  ought  to  have  taken  the  Trent  into  port  for  trial."  And  on 
this  punctilio,  great  and  magnanimous  England  proposes  to  join  the 
slaveholders  against  us,  and  to  strike  us  to  the  earth  when  we  are  too 
weak  to  resist  her  ! 

You  have  several  times  reproved  me  for  my  prediction  of  last  win- 
ter. My  only  error,  it  seems,  was  in  the  time  I  allowed.  The  inter- 
vening months  have  been  spent — you  know  it  as  well  as  I — in  poi- 
soning the  British  mind  against  us  in  base  perversions  of  the  ground 
and  causes  of  the  rebellion.  In  a  word,  in  preparing  the  public 
mind  of  England  to  sustain  the  Government  in  striking  us  when  the 
first  plausible  pretext  should  come.    Now  it  has  come. 

You  are  stronger  than  we  are,  and  could  do  us  more  harm  than 
we  could  do  you,  even  if  we  were  united.  Now  that  the  slaveholders 
are  fighting  us,  you  can  crush  us.  But  will  not  the  shame  of  such 
an  alliance  cause  your  ears  to  tingle  when  you  hear  of  victo- 
ries }  And  when  you  have  subdued  us,  established  the  dominion  of 
King  Cotton,  and  have  fixed  the  yoke  of  the  slaveholding  oligarchy 
firmly  upon  the  necks  of  our  people,  will  the  achievement  be  one  to 
be  proud  of?  Will  England  stand,  then,  at  the  head  of  Christian 
nations  }  Will  God  be  glorified  thereby  }  The  laurels  to  be  won  in 
forcing  the  priest  party  on  poor,  distracted  Mexico,  will  fade  before 
the  greater  honor  of  forcing  the  slave  power  upon  the  prostrate 
United  States. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


God  bless  you  and  your  country,  my  dear  friend  !  If  we  have  war, 
and  it  lasts  five  years  or  ten,  I  shall  never  cease  to  love  you,  to  thank 
you  for  the  great  services  you  have  rendered  us,  and  to  pray  for  you, 
even  on  some  night  when  your  ships  may  be  bombarding  my  old 
home  in  New  York, 

The  Rev.  Win,  Arthur  to  Dr.  M'Ch'ntock. 

LoxDox,  December  4, 1861. 

May  God  bless  you  !  Thanks  for  your  letter,  which  will  not  be 
useless.  There  is  one  word  on  which  I  seriously  differ  from  you — 
"punctilio."  I  hope  Com.  Wilkes  meant  the  difference  between  ar- 
resting the  ship  and  judging  her,  as  in  our  favor,  and  always  say  so  ; 
but  it  is  one  of  the  most  cherished  distinctions  in  our  executive  pro- 
ceedings. We  give  every  policeman  the  right  to  arrest  a  person  ac- 
cused, and  carry  him  before  a  tribunal ;  but  let  the  highest  police 
officer  in  the  land  assume  to  deal  out  justice  and  he  will  soon  .be  dis- 
missed. 

As  to  Fairfax,  I  am  inclined  to  agree  with  much  you  say.  As  to 
Wilkes,  all  was  the  most  studious  insult.  His  shotted  guns,  his  live 
shell,  his  armed  men,  his  bare  cutlasses,  convinced  every  sailor  I  have 
heard  speak  that  he  deliberately  meant  to  provoke  war.  So  per- 
suaded are  they  of  it,  that  those  who  do  not  believe  in  the  Govern- 
ment wishing  war,  suppose  that  he  must  be  at  heart  a  seces- 
sionist. If  one  thing  is  certain  under  the  sun,  it  is  that  the  day  be- 
fore the  news  oA  Wilkes's  movement  reached  us,  the  universal  feeling 
in  England  was  satisfaction  that  we  had  succeeded  in  being  neutral, 
hope  that  complications  were  now  impossible,  and  congratulation 
that  our  commerce  and  money  market  were  daily  showing  themselves 
superior  to  the  influence  of  the  war.  Our  papers  acted  badly,  very 
badly,  but  the  idea  of  a  war  was  far  from  the  heart  even  of  the  Times. 

Many  thanks  for  the  extract  from  the  Herald. 

The  Rev.  Wm.  Arthur  to  Dr.  M'Clintock. 
The  French  papers  are  full  of  sensational  news,  and  I  venture  to 
say  that  the  scrap  you  send  was  never  read  a  second  time  by  any  one 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


here — no  one  saw  it.  Our  men  were  full  of  the  conviction  that  Sew- 
ard intended,  by  deliberate  insult,  to  bring  on  a  war.  and  lay  on  us 
the  blame  of  recognizing  the  South.  I  think  they  no>v  see  a  little 
more  clearly  ;  but  as  a  specimen,  I  saw  a  letter  from  a  peer  in  the 
country,  requesting  his  nearest  friend  to  tell  the  Government  that  he 
had  good  information  to  the  effect  that  the  real  destination  of  the 
armada  was  the  West  Indies,  and  Port  Royal  a  mere  feint.  People 
here  have  striven  hard  to  reconcile  themselves  to  the  prospect  of  a 
war,  but  cannot ;  and  if  your  Government  makes  amends,  there  will 
be  more  jubilant  feeling  than  for  many  a  day,  though  sober,  as  will,  in 
the  other  case,  be  the  sorrow. 

Weed  is  a  noble  fellow,  and  will  do  great  good.  He  is  the  right 
kind  of  a  man  for  our  folk. 

Would  to  God  that  your  North  had  had  the  generosity  to  say  from 
the  first  England  will  be  our  friend,  instead  of  flinging  constantly  in 
our  faces  your  belief  that  we  should  make  defensive  and  offensive  al- 
liance with  the  South  !  Common  policy  taught  the  South  to  do  what 
good  feeling,  without  it,  might  have  taught  the  North  ;  what  both 
combined  ought  to  have  done. 

The  feeling  here  is  less  for  war  every  day,  still  all  are  ready  if  they 
must ;  and  if  this  passes  over  I  believe  the  incident  will  do  much  to 
make  us  understand  each  other. 

The  God  of  peace  bless  you  and  America  ! 

Of  the  service  rendered  by  Dr.  M'Clintock  and  Mr. 
Arthur  to  Mr.  Weed  in  his  mission,  Mr.  Weed  gives  the 
following  interesting  account  in  a  note  to  me :  Three 
days  after  I  reached  Paris,  in  November,  1861,  news  was 
received  that  Messrs.  Mason  and  SHdell,  Confederate 
commissioners,  had  been  taken  from  the  Trent,  an  En- 
glish ship,  by  a  United  States'  war  steamer.  That  news 
occasioned  great  excitement  both  in  England  and  France. 
After  a  consultation  between  Mr.  Dayton,  the  American 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


Minister,  Mr.  Bigelow,  our  Consul,  Archbishop  Hughes, 
and  General  Winfield  Scott,  at  which  Dr.  M'Clintock 
was  present,  it  was  deemed  proper  that  I  should  proceed 
immediately  to  London.  Before  leaving  Paris  Dr. 
M'Clintock  handed  me  a  letter  of  introduction  to  the 
Rev.  William  Arthur,  remarking  that  I  had  better  de- 
liver it  as  soon  as  convenient  after  my  arrival  in  London. 
Remembering  the  earnestness  of  Dr.  M'Clintock's  lan- 
guage and  manner,  I  lost  no  time  in  calling  upon  Mr. 
Arthur,  whom  I  found  at  the  Methodist  Mission  House, 
of  which  he  was  secretary.  My  reception  was  very  cor- 
dial. Mr.  Arthur,  while  putting  on  his  hat  and  coat,  ex- 
pressed great  apprehension  that  the  Trent  affair  would 
occasion  a  war.  It  was  important,  he  said,  that  I  should 
immediately  be  made  acquainted  with  the  Hon.  Arthur 
Kinnaird,  and  other  influential  friends  of  the  North. 
Taking  a  seat  with  me  in  a  cab,  we  were  driven  to  Pall 
Mall,  where  I  was  introduced  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kinnaird, 
both  of  whom  sympathized  warmly  with  our  Government, 
and  entered  promptly  upon  measures  calculated  first  to 
avert  war,  and  next  to  correct  the  erroneous  views,  so 
widespread  in  England,  of  the  causes  of  our  Rebellion. 
I  was  indebted  to  Mr.  Kinnaird  for  early  introductions  to 
Lord  Palmerston,  the  Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  and  other  dis- 
tinguished personages.  As  a  member  of  Parliament  I 
found  him  an  efficient  friend  of  the  Union  during  the 
Rebellion.  I  was  several  times  in  Paris  during  the  eight 
months  we  were  abroad,  always  finding  in  Dr.  M'Clin- 
tock a  devoted  friend  of  the  Union,  upon  whose  intelli- 
gence and  advice  I  could  safely  rely." 


314 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


To  Mr.  T.  N.  Dale. 

Paris,  December  16,  1S61. 

I  send  by  this  mail  Saturday's  Opinion,  containing  an  article  of 

mine  signed  ,  and  also  yesterday's  Opinioii,  with  notice  of  the 

article  in  the  bulletin.  Don't  mention  my  name  in  connexion  with 
these  articles.  I  am  to  keep  r Opinion  posted  hereafter.  I  have  also 
just  translated  Gasparin's  new  pamphlet,  and  sent  it  to  London  to 
be  printed.  In  truth  I  have  been  working  so  hard  recently  as  seri- 
ously to  hurt  my  nervous  system.  Yet  one  must  not  spare  himself 
in  these  times. 

To  Mr.  Lemuel  Bangs. 

Paris,  December  20, 1861. 

I  have  nearly  written  myself  into  a  fever  on  this  quarrel  with  En- 
gland. If  we  get  out  of  the  scrape  I  hope  I  shall  have  contributed  to 
it  by  what  I  have  written  and  printed,  both  in  England  and  here.  I 
hope  you  will  give  up  Mason  and  Slidell.  Such  an  affair  as  this  Trent 
is  the  only  one  on  which  the  English  aristocracy  could  have  fired  up 
the  masses  against  us,  and  they  have  used  it  with  fearful  skill  and 
success.  If  we  deprive  them  of  this  issue,  and  they  try  another,  they 
will  fail,  unless,  indeed,  it  be  another  of  the  same  sort.  Moreover, 
even  in  France,  the  opinion  prevails  that  our  Government  dare  not 
resist  the  mob.  To  give  up  the  rebels  would  put  down  this  cry  :  even 
English  lies  could  not  cover  up  or  pervert  so  great  a  fact,  for  which 
all  the  world  is  listening  with  open  ears. 

If  the  war  does  come,  I  shall  have  to  go  home  at  once,  I  suppose ; 
and  my  feelings  lead  me  to  go.  It  is  a  terrible  tension  of  the  nerves 
to  await  the  arrival  of  the  steamers.  Yet  there  never  was  a  time  in 
which  it  was  so  important  to  the  country  for  me  to  be  here,  as  it  will 
be  after  war  breaks  out.  I  have  greater  means  of  influence  now 
than  ever.  If  things  are  rightly  managed  France  will  take  our  side 
within  six  months  after  war  breaks  out.  But  will  things  be  rightly 
managed  }  We  had  the  threads  all  in  our  hands  then,  but  Mr.  Sew- 
ard could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  use  them.  A^ow,  he  sends 
Hughes,  Weed,  M'llvaine,  and  all  such,  but  it  is,  I  fear,  shutting  the 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


stable  door  after  the  steed  is  stolen.  Half  the  expense  last  spring 
would  have  kept  him  in  the  stable. 

To  the  Rev.  A.  Long  acre. 

Paris,  December  20, 1861. 

Your  letter  of  the  7th  inst.,  from  Cairo,  arrived  yesterday.  You 
were  in  blissful  ignorance,  when  you  wrote,  of  the  state  of  warlike 
madness  into  which  our  friends  on  the  other  side  of  the  channel  have 
lashed  themselves.  It  has  somewhat  subsided  now,  but  the  state 
of  things  is  fearful  to  behold  as  among  a  Christian  people.  All 
their  fine  preachings  to  us  about  the  "sin  of  fighting"  are  suddenly 
ended.  The  point  of  honor — national  pride — is,  for  England,  more 
than  philanthropy.  Especially  when  behind  the  point  of  honor  lies 
a  want  of  cotton  and  a  dread  of  republicanism.  Yet  the  whole  heart 
of  the  people  is  with  us.  The  people  may  be  led  or  driven  by  the 
aristocracy  into  a  hateful  war,  but  it  has  not  come  to  that  yet.  We 
believe  and  hope  that  Lincoln  will  give  up  Mason  and  Slidell,  or  pro- 
pose the  arbitration  of  the  Emperor  Napoleon.  The  London  Times 
and  Herald  insist  upon  it  that  England  will  not  agree  to  the  latter 
proposition,  but  I  do  not  think  Palmerston  will  dare  to  refuse  it.  It 
is  said  that  the  queen  is  opposed  to  fighting  us,  some  say  the  Prince 
of  Wales  also,  but  it  is  hard  to  find  out  the  truth  these  days. 

I  have  just  translated  De  Gasparin's  new  pamphlet  to  print  in 
London.    I  fear,  however,  it  will  fall  on  unwilling  ears. 

Americans  in  Europe  felt  very  keenly  the  manner  in 
which  the  country  was  often  wronged  by  the  telegrams 
sent  through  the  Atlantic  cable.  The  editorials  of  the 
English  and  continental  papers  were  based  upon  the 
cable  reports ;  the  corrections  of  the  cable  news,  which 
came  later  by  mail,  as  a  rule,  went  unnoticed.  It  was 
evident  that  if  the  dispatches  from  this  side  were  imper- 
fectly, or  carelessly,  or  unfairly  made  up,  the  effect,  in  a 
time  of  such  overwrought  excitement,  could  not  be  other- 


3l6  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

wise  than  hurtful  to  our  country  abroad.  Dr.  M'Clintock 
called  attention  to  this  subject,  first  of  the  agent  of  the 
Associated  Press  in  New  York,  and  next  of  the  depart- 
ment of  war  at  Washington,  with  the  result  of  putting 
all  parties  on  their  guard.  The  incident  was  not  in  itself 
important,  but  is  an  example  of  the  vigilance  with  which 
he  watched  the  influences  that  were  every  day  mould- 
ing European  opinion. 

Let  it  not  be  supposed,  however,  that  he  became  so 
absorbed  in  the  service  of  his  country  as  to  forget  or 
slight  his  duty  as  pastor  of  the  American  Chapel.  Far 
from  it.  N  ever  was  his  preaching  more  direct  than  dur- 
ing his  ministry  in  Paris.  He  speaks  gratefully  of  its 
fruit  in  the  conversion  of  some  of  his  hearers.  His  assist- 
ant, Mr.  Longacre,  having  returned  home  in  the  spring 
of  1862,  he  assumed  himself,  from  that  time,  the  entire 
Sunday  labor,  preaching  twice,  and  reading  in  the  morn- 
ing the  Episcopal  service.  Nor  did  he  forget  Christ's 
word,  I  was  in  prison  and  ye  came  unto  me."  There 
is  in  his  collection  of  letters  one  from  the  American  min- 
ister, the  Hon.  W.  L.  Dayton,  to  th€  Prefect  of  police  of 
Paris,  which  runs  thus :  "  The  bearer  of  this  note  is  the 
Rev.  Dr.  M'Clintock,  the  pastor  of  the  American  Chapel. 
I  respectfully  ask,  in  behalf  of  such  of  his  countrymen  as 
may  be  confined  in  the  prisons  of  Paris,  that  he  may  be 
permitted  to  visit  them  when  and  as  often  as  his  counsel 
and  services  may  be  desired  by  them  respectively."  For 
one  American,  in  prison  on  a  serious  charge,  he  interest- 
ed himself  greatly,  visiting  the  authorities,  and  finally 
appealing  to  the  emperor  in  his  behalf. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  317 

A  little  incident  of  his  Paris  life  is  very  characteristic. 
One  of  our  missionaries  in  India,  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Gracey, 
who  was  under  great  obligations  to  a  surgeon  of  the 
British  army,  wished  to  present  his  benefactor  a  scarce 
scientific  book,  which  could  not  be  had  in  the  East.  He 
wrote  to  Dr.  M'Clintock  asking  him,  if  it  were  practicable, 
to  find  and  purchase  it.  "  Amid  all  his  other  cares  and 
duties,"  says  Mr.  Gracey  in  a  note  to  me,  "  he  put  him- 
self to  no  small  pains  to  secure  and  forward  it,  and  as  I 
took  it  unbound,  he  would  not  accept  any  thing  in  pay- 
ment for  it.  The  deep  sympathy  which  he  had  with  our 
foreign  mission  force  was  the  explanation  in  part  of  his 
kind  attention  to  my  demands."  A  well-known  Amer- 
ican writer,  Edward  Everett  Hale,  in  one  of  his  brilliant 
fancies,  sketches  the  plan  of  a  club,  propagating  itself 
over  the  world,  two  of  whose  cardinal  principles  should  be, 
"to  look  up  and  not  down,  and  to  lend  a  hand."  In  such 
an  association  Dr.  M'Clintock,  by  a  natural  and  easy 
process,  would  have  become  head  and  chief.  If  he  had 
had  a  hundred  hands  he  would  have  lent  them  all,  in 
help  and  service,  to  his  fellow-men.  To  look  up  and 
not  down,  and  to  lend  a  hand,"  were  the  sum  and  sub- 
stance of  his  philosophy  of  life. 


318 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


LETTERS— 1861   TO  1862. 
L  TO  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 
I. 

Wab  Department,  Washington,  D.  C,  Sept.  16,  1861. 

My  Very  Dear  Sir  : — Your  letter  of  the  28th  ult.  was  very  wel- 
come, proving  as  it  does  your  intense  interest  in  our  great  stiTiggle. 

I  have  written  to  the  President  of  the  American  Telegraph  Com- 
pany a  special  letter  on  the  subject,  and  as  I  know  all  his  sympathies 
are  on  our  side,  I  am  satisfied  he  will  remedy  the  difficulty  in  regard 
to  the  telegrams  made  up  for  Europe.  When  I  hear  from  him  I  shall 
take  pleasure  in  letting  you  know  what  he  says  and  what  he  has  done. 

You  ask  several  questions.  I  reply :  Martial  law  practically  has 
existed  at  Washington  for  six  weeks.  The  provost  marshal  (Gen- 
eral Porter)  is  arresting  traitors  day  and  night. 

The  wealthy  people  at  Washington  whom  you  suspect  are  giving 
aid  and  comfort  to  the  rebels  are  rather  hard  to  find  now,  as,  thanks 
to  the  vigorous  measures  of  General  M'Clellan  and  General  Porter, 
they  have  either  been  caught  and  sent  to  Fort  Lafayette,  or  have 
packed  up  their  trunks  and  gone  to  parts  unknown.  Believe  me, 
with  warm  regards  to  your  family, 

Your  sincere  friend,  James  Lesley,  Jun. 

Wab  Depabtment,  Washington,  D.  C,  Oct.  21, 1861. 
Dear  Sir: — Your  favor  of  the  3d  inst.  is  acknowledged  with 
much  pleasure. 

I  am  ver}-  much  gratified  in  being  able  to  give  you  the  satisfactory 
intelligence  that  arrangements  have  been  definitely  made  to  transmit 
the  proper  kind  of  telegrams  to  the  English  press.  This  matter  has 
required  considerable  judgment  to  arrange,  but  by  the  aid  of  the 
Secretary  of  State,  and  the  Assistant  Secretary  of  War,  it  has  been 
finally  accomplished.  I  think  there  will  be  no  more  cause  for  com- 
plaint hereafter.    With  kind  regards  to  your  family, 

I  remain  your  sincere  friend,  JAMES  LESLEY,  JUN. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


II.  FEOM  DK.  M'CLINTOCK  TO  HIS  FEIENDS. 
I. 

Paris,  Jtily  31,  1S61. 

You  see  that  I  mean  to  keep  you  in  debt,  for  letters  at  least.  But, 
like  the  New  York  merchants,  I  have  decided  on  a  cash  business — 
thirty  days  the  very  longest  date,  and  you  have  had  much  more  than 
that  time  on  my  last.  Please  pay  up  promptly.  The  difficulties 
which  the  war  necessarily  brings  must  fall  upon  you  in  common 
with  others,  and  must  make  demands  upon  your  time  also.  But  it 
will  relieve  your  mind  to  write.  I  am  sure  you  will  find  my  pre- 
scription good. 

If  possible,  our  anxiety  here  is  greater  than  yours  at  home,  for  we 
get  our  news  all  in  a  lump,  and  not  gradually,  in  driblets,  as  you  do. 
The  last  steamer  brought  us  the  accounts  of  M'Clellan's  victories, 
and  of  the  advance  of  M'Dowell's  column.  I  pray  God  that  the 
great  preparations  of  the  Government  may  cause  the  southern  army 
to  disband  without  fighting,  so  that  our  country's  soil  may  not  be 
saturated  with  fraternal  blood.  What  an  account  will  the  men  have 
to  render  who  have  undertaken  to  destroy  the  mildest  and  best  Gov- 
ernment the  world  ever  saw  !  But  this  is  our  time  of  trial.  I  trust 
the  country  will  come  out  of  it  like  gold  tried  in  the  fire. 

Bishop  Janes  has  just  left  us.  His  three  days'  visit  was  a  blessing 
to  us  all.  His  view  of  the  importance  of  my  work  here,  in  the 
American  Chapel,  has  greatly  changed,  and  he  now  urges  me  to  re- 
main some  years — ^in  view  not  only  of  the  work  of  God  in  Paris,  but 
all  over  the  continent  of  Europe.  I  have  not  yet  decided  whether  to 
return  this  fall  or  not :  it  will  depend  on  letters  to  arrive  in  a  week  or 
two.  In  this,  as  in  all  things,  I  hope  to  act  simply  as  Providence 
dictates. 

A.  V.  Stout,  Esq.,  Nbw  York. 

II. 

Paris,  December  19, 1861. 
Monsieur: — Your  letter  of  December  2  arrived  at  a  moment 
when  I  was  worn  out  with  writing  to  England  and  America  about 
the  Trent  affair.    Moreover,  my  secretary  is  ill,  and  has  been  for 


320 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


two  weeks.  Nevertheless,  I  wait  for  him  no  longer,  but  write  to  you 
in  English,  not  trusting  my  own  French  for  such  a  purpose. 

I  had  anticipated  your  wishes  in  writing  to  America.  My  hope  is 
that  this  dreadful  evil  of  war  between  England  and  America  may  be 
averted,  and  I  am  straining  every  nerve  to  that  end.  But  the  public 
opinion  of  Britain  has  been  so  shockingly  perverted  and  demoralized 
by  the  "  Times,"  and  other  journals,  that  I  cannot  say  that  I  expect 
peace  to  subsist  long,  even  if  war  does  not  grow  out  of  the  Trent  af- 
fair. Good  men  in  England  abound,  and  many  of  them  have  stood 
by  the  cause  of  truth  and  justice  from  the  beginning  ;  but  their  num- 
ber is  small  compared  with  those  who,  for  political  or  commercial 
reasons,  are  determined  to  take  part  with  the  slaveholders. 

The  New  York  journals  are  very  moderate  in  tone  on  the  Trent 
trouble.  The  "  Patrie "  has  some  new  canard  every  night.  No 
confidence  whatever  can  be  placed  in  its  dernieres  nouvelles.  The 
"  Debats  "  has  had  some  noble  articles  this  week. 

I  have  just  received  your  second  letter.  To-morrow  I  shall  go  to 
Levy's  and  get  the  proof  sheets,  if  he  has  them  ready,  and  will  en- 
deavor to  meet  your  wishes  as  to  the  translation  for  England 
promptly. 

May  God  bless  you  for  your  earnest  and  active  sympathy  for  our 
cause  !  God  is  just.  Even  if  England  goes  to  war  with  us  in  aid 
of  the  slave  cause,  all  is  not  lost. 

I  am,  with  the  sincerest  respect  and  regard,  M.  le  Comte, 
Your  obliged, 

M.  LE  CoUTE  DE  GaSPABIN.  John  M'Clintock. 

III. 

Parm,  December  20, 1861. 

Dear  General  : — I  beg  you  to  listen  to  me  one  moment.  There 
is  war  in  America,  not  merely  rebellion.  Your  war  must  be  con- 
ducted on  established  principles,  or  our  Government  will  take  rank 
with  Austria  and  Naples. 

Privateering  is  as  legitimate  as  war  on  land,  except  for  nations 
that  have  accepted  the  Paris  decisions  of  1856.    If  you  hang  one  of 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


321 


the  privateersmen  you  alienate  all  European  sympathy.  The  Liber- 
als all  over  Europe  are  with  us  now  ;  but  they  will  drop  our  cause  at 
once  if  you  do  this  thing.  The  Liberals  are  likely  some  day  to  be 
•*  rebels  "  themselves  against  tyranny  here  :  and  they  will  not  sustain 
you  in  establishing  such  precedents. 

The  honor  of  our  Government  is  much  more  at  stake  in  not  waging 
vigorous  war,  and  in  not  using  all  legitimate  means  of  harming  the 
enemy,  than  in  such  points  of  etiquette  as  hanging  privateersmen,  re- 
fusing exchange  of  prisoners,  etc.  The  rebels  are  at  war  with  us, 
and  at  tolerably  successful  war,  too.  Let  us  beat  them  in  war  first, 
and  the  rebellion  will  fall  of  itself. 

I  beg  you  to  understand  that  I  am  not  simply  expressing  my  own 
views,  but  those  of  the  best  informed  Americans  and  Frenchmen 
whom  I  meet. 

For  the  sake  of  the  honor  of  our  country,  and  of  republicanism — 
for  the  sake  of  liberal  principles  all  over  the  world — I  adjure  you  to 
use  your  influence  to  prevent  the  hanging  of  any  of  the  privateers- 
men.   May  God  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping ! 
Gknbral  Simon  Cameron,  Secretary  of  War,  Washington. 

IV. 

Park,  Dectmber  27,  1861. 

Reverend  and  Dear  Sir  : — I  have  requested  Messrs.  S.  Low,  Son 
&  Co.,  to  send  you  a  copy  of  De  Gasparin's  "  Word  of  Peace,"  which 
I  have  just  translated.  If  you  think,  with  me,  that  its  circulation  will 
do  good,  pray  send  to  Mr.  Low  and  get  copies  to  distribute  to  any 
persons  of  influence  you  may  choose.    I  have  directed  them. 

I  do  not  believe  that  God  will  allow  unprincipled  men  to  get  up  a 
war  between  England  and  America. 

Of  all  the  miracles  of  modern  days,  the  success  of  the  "  Times  " 
in  persuading  Englishmen  to  believe  that  Mr.  Lincoln's  Government 
desires  war  is  the  greatest. 

Your  prayer  at  Exeter  Hall  has  gone  to  the  ends  of  the  earth ; 
and,  what  is  more,  it  has,  I  trust,  reached  the  ears  of  Him  who 
heareth  prayer.    May  God  bless  you  ! 

The  Hon.  and  Rev.  Baptist  Nokl,  London. 

21 


322 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


V. 

Paeis,  January  2,  1S62. 

A  happy  New  Year!  May  1862  be  better  for  your  and  for  our 
country  than  1861  has  been  ! 

We  are  still  on  the  qui  vive  for  the  settlement  of  the  Trent  busi- 
ness, hoping  that  Prox  idence  may  save  us  from  the  folly  and  peril  of 
a  war  with  England.  Even  now  I  have  no  certainty  that  this  letter 
will  reach  you,  as  the  English  steamers  do  not  pledge  themselves  to 
sail  beyond  Halifax. 

I  have  been  doing  what  I  could.  De  Gasparin  v^TOte  a  powerful 
pamphlet  on  the  Trent  trouble,  which  was  published  in  Paris.  He 
urged  me  to  translate  it  for  England.  I  did  so,  and  it  has  had,  I 
think,  great  effect  there.  Arthur  has  written  a  noble  article  for  the 
January  number  of  the  "  London  Review."  I  have  had  it  printed  as 
a  pamphlet  and  circulated  in  England.  If  this  affair  blows  over,  I 
hope  that  a  better  state  of  feeling  will  grow  out  of  it  between  En- 
gland and  America  ;  and  I  hope,  too,  that  you  will  fortify  Portland, 
Newport,  New  York.  Delaware  Bay,  the  Chesapeake,  and  the  Lake 
harbors,  in  such  a  way  that  John  Bull  will  get  the  worst  of  it  in  case 
of  war  hereafter. 

It  is  not  to  be  disguised  that  we  are  losing  ground  in  Europe  every 
day.  The  rebels  spare  no  money  or  talents  on  the  press  here  :  our 
Government  leaves  the  whole  matter  to  individual  effort.  Our  want 
of  military  success  at  home  is  believed  to  prove  our  want  of  military 
skill,  and  France,  as  well  as  England,  is  laughing  at  our  vaunting 
as  contrasted  with  our  doing.  If  this  winter  passes  away  without 
decisive  operations,  you  need  not  wonder  if  France  and  England 
recognize  the  slave  confederacy  in  the  spring — nor  need  you  com- 
plain of  them  for  so  doing.  The  commerce  of  the  world  can't  wait 
ten  years  to  let  the  American  people  learn  the  art  of  war. 

All  pretty  well — chapel  flourishing.     If  we  have  war  with  En- 
gland, however,  most  of  the  Americans  will  go  home,  and  therefore 
we  shall  go,  too. 
J.  A.  "Wkigiit,  Esq.,  Philadelphia. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


3^3 


VI. 

Paeis,  April  8, 1S62. 

My  Dear  Friend  : — Nothing  is  heard  of  all  over  Europe  but 
Merrimacs,  Monitors,  iron-clad  steamers,  etc.  Vessels  are  coating 
with  iron  in  eveiy  country  which  puts  a  ship  to  sea.  We  have  fairly 
got  the  start  of  them,  and,  I  hope,  will  keep  it.  The  English,  you 
see,  take  all  the  credit  of  the  Monitor,  calling  it  a  clumsy  piracy  on 
Coles's  plan  of  cupola  ships.  They  will  next  declare  that  Stevens's 
iron  batter}',  begun  twenty  years  ago,  is  pirated  from  some  English 
invention.  By  the  way,  I  take  credit  to  myself  for  urging  our  Gov- 
ernment last  year  to  complete  Stevens's  ship,  though  the  urgency  was 
in  vain.  I  hope  it  will  be  done  promptly  now.  With  two  or  three 
such  ships,  built  a  year  ago,  you  might  have  taken  Charleston,  Mo- 
bile, and  New  Orleans  long  since,  saved  thousands  of  precious  lives, 
and  millions  of  money.  The  late  news  —  Columbus,  Newbern,  Ma- 
nasses,  Beaufort — has,  for  the  present,  put  the  rebel  sympathizers  here 
in  bodily  fear,  and  even  the  "Times"  has  dropped  its  slaveholding 
clients.  But  if  you  meet  reverses  the  whole  pack  will  soon  be  in  full 
cry  again.  The  British  aristocracy  is  not  converted  to  our  side,  it 
is  only  disappointed,  and  disappointed  to  the  heart's  core.  I  do  not 
trust  the  British  Government  a  pin's  weight  more  now  than  I  did  a 
year  ago,  and  hope  our  Government  and  people  will  not  be  put  off 
their  guard  by  the  lull  of  English  abuse,  caused  only  by  our  victories. 

Your  letters  have  done  more  good  than  you  can  readily  think.  They 
have  furnished  me  with  facts  and  arguments  which  I  have  used,  not 
merely  in  meeting  the  assaults  of  our  enemies,  but  also  in  strength- 
ening the  nerves  of  timid  friends.  How  many  people  there  are  in  this 
world  who  require  others  to  hold  them  up  !  I  have  had  several 
American  correspondents  during  the  war,  but  your  statements  have 
been  more  full  and  accurate,  and  your  predictions  more  correct,  than 
any  that  I  have  received.  No  passage  of  Scripture  is  oftener  veri- 
fied than  this :  "  Be  of  good  courage,  and  God  shall  strengthen 
thine  heart."  To  him  that  hath  shall  be  given.  A  bold  facing  of 
peril  clears  up  the  mind,  and  enables  it  to  work  vigorously  against 


324 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


the  evil ;  while  a  trembling  man  loses  his  mental  and  his  moral 
vigor.    But  I  did  not  mean  to  preach  a  sermon. 

My  health  has  been  ver}^  poor  for  several  weeks — cold,  influenza, 
diarrhoea,  and  rheumatism  in  my  ancle,  which,  added  to  the  trouble  in 
the  knee,  has  made  locomotion  almost  an  impossibility.  Yet  I  have 
missed  but  one  Sunday  in  six  months  at  the  Chapel.  Within  the  last 
week  I  have  begun  to  get  better,  and  hope  soon  to  have  at  least  my 
ordinary  health  again.  We  have  had  a  great  deal  of  sickness  in  the 
family  also,  but  all  seem  to  be  mending  now.  Bishop  M'llvaine  is 
here  :  I  asked  him  to  preach  for  us,  but  he  had  engaged  both  Sun- 
days to  Mr.  Lamson  and  Mr.  Forbes.  He  preached  for  Mr.  Lamson 
on  Sunday  morning.  I  had  an  idea  that  it  would  make  a  good  deal 
of  difference  in  our  congregation,  but  it  did  not  —  we  had  about  as 
many  as  usual. 

The  new  Wesleyan  Chapel,  near  the  Boulevard  Malesherbes,  is 
going  up  rapidly.  They  have  church,  school-rooms,  bookseller's 
shop,  and  pastor's  residence,  all  under  one  roof,  yet  presenting  a  fine 
architectural  appearance.  It  is  a  great  pity  we  had  not  adopted  such 
a  plan  at  first.  But  as  it  is  we  must  try  to  get  the  Evans  lot,  and  fix 
the  American  Chapel  on  immovable  foundations  by  building  on  it. 
Then,  and  then  only,  will  we  be  strong  and  safe.  If  I  could  see  this 
thing  done  before  returning  to  America,  I  should  go  back  happy  and 
contented.  The  suggestion  in  your  last  about  the  legation,  strikes 
me  as  just  the  thing.  Of  course  I  have  not  mentioned  it,  and  shall 
not  until  the  time  comes.  If  we  now  had  a  good,  pleasant  room,  we 
should  have  a  full  Sunday-school.  One  part  of  the  Rez-de-Chaussee 
might  be  a  reading-room,  stocked  with  American  journals,  reviews, 
etc.,  thus  making  it  an  attractive  place  for  Americans,  young  and  old. 
The  scheme  is  perfectly  feasible  if  we  can  only  get  the  mone)^  But 
for  the  war  we  could  have  had  it. 

We  hope  to  hear,  by  each  steamer,  that  the  Senate  has  adopted  the 
House  resolutions  as  to  compensated  emancipation.  Why  in  the 
world  is  the  bill  for  freeing  the  District  of  Columbia  delayed  }  It  is 
a  shame  to  civilization  that  the  capita!  of  the  United  States  should 
have  a  slave  in  it  for  another  hour.    Nor  does  any  constitutional  or 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


325 


legal  barrier  stand  in  the  way  to  justify  delay.  With  that  measure 
accomplished,  and  the  president's  recommendation  adopted,  it  will 
not  be  long  fill  Delaware  and  Maryland  are  made  free  States. 

T.  N.  Dale,  Esq.,  New  York. 

VII. 

Pabis,  October  27, 18G2. 

Your  letter  of  the  loth,  with  enclosed  draft  for  £26,  has  just  ar- 
rived. I  need  not  say  that  I  am  touched  by  the  kindness  of  the  un- 
known friends  you  allude  to.  Pray  convey  my  sincere  thanks  and 
acknowledgments.  Had  the  letter  arrived  six  weeks  ago  I  should 
have  gone  at  once.  But  ^/len  there  was  a  minister  here,  very  accept- 
able to  our  people,  who  would  have  been  willing  to  remain  and 
preach  for  me  during  my  absence.  Now  he  is  gone,  and  there  is  no 
chance  of  my  getting  any  one  to  fill  the  pulpit  in  my  absence. 

That  would  be  reason  enough  if  there  were  no  other.  But  there 
is  another.  My  health  has  run  down  very  much  within  the  last 
month  or  two,  afflicting  my  head  especially.  If  I  were  in  New  York 
now,  I  could  not  stand  the  excitement  of  public  services,  and  so  my 
going  would  be  of  no  use.  Moreover,  suffering  as  I  am  from  rheu- 
matism, I  could  not  undertake  two  winter  voyages. 

My  first  thought  was  to  return  the  draft  for  £26  ;  but  seeing  there 
would  be  a  loss  in  that,  I  retain  it.  Please  pay  the  amount  back, 
and  charge  it  to  me  on  account.  You  will  owe  me  that  much,  ac- 
cording to  my  account,  by  December. 

I  need  not  say  how  much  pleasure  it  would  give  me  to  take  a  look 
at  you  all.  But  at  present  I  must  not  think  of  it.  Unless  I  devote 
this  winter,  or  a  good  part  of  it,  simply  to  rest  and  recruiting,  I  fear 
my  health  may  be  utterly  broken  up.  I  shall  write  just  as  little  as 
possible. 

Bkv.  Db.  G.  B.  Cbooks. 

VIII. 

Paris,  December  2, 1862. 
I  succeeded  yesterday  in  purchasing  the  "  Rapport  General  stir  les 
travaux  du  Conseil  D'  Hygiene,"  etc.    It  is  unbound.    It  occurs  to 
me  that  you  would  desire  to  present  it  handsomely  bound.    I  await 


326 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


your  order  in  .that  respect  before  sending  it.  I  have  paid  for  th<. 
book  sixteen  francs.  To  bind  it  well  in  half  morocco  will  cost 
ten  or  twelve  francs  more ;  or,  with  gilt  edges,  about  fourteen 
francs,  bringing  the  total  cost  up  to  thirty  francs,  or  about  £1.4.6. 
You  can  remit  the  amount  in  francs,  by  draft  on  Paris  ;  or  in  sterling, 
by  draft  on  London.  Be  good  enough  also  to  indicate  by  what  mode 
of  conveyance  you  desire  the  book  sent.  I  am  glad  to  render  you 
this  slight  ser\-ice.  In  case  you,  or  any  one  else  connected  with  our 
missions,  shall  ever  need  anything  from  Paris,  pray  command  me. 

The  prospect  at  home  is  better,  I  think,  than  it  has  been  for 
some  months.    The  war,  I  hope,  will  be  ended  by  next  summer,  and 
freedom  established  throughout  the  land.    May  God  grant  it ! 
Ebv.  J.  T.  Gbacet,  India. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


327 


CHAPTER  X. 
I 862-1 864. 


Dr.  M'Clintock's  Habitual  Interest  in  Political  Affairs— The  Scholar  in  Politics— Effect  of 
his  Activity  upon  his  Countrymen  in  Europe— Prosperity  of  the  Chapel — Piespect  of  Europe 
for  "Monitors" — Tribute  to  the  Memory  of  the  Eev.  Dr.  Bangs— The  United  States  is  n 
Great  Nation — European  Opinion  of  General  M'Clellan— A  Detacliment  of  Lee's  Army 
Enters  Carlisle— Anticipation  Eight  Years  Before  of  such  an  Event  by  Dr.  M"Clintock— 
Notice  to  American  and  Foreign  Christian  Union  of  his  Purpose  to  Return  Home — Keview 
of  his  Pastorate  in  Paris — The  Eev.  Andrew  Longacre's  Sketch  of  Dr.  M"Clintock's  Per- 
sonal Life — Making  Sunshine  for  All — Ciiarity  for  Men,  and  Faith  in  God. 


HOUGH  devoted  by  his  choice,  and  by  the  obUga- 


tions  which  he  had  assumed,  to  the  ministerial  call- 
ing, Dr.  M'CHntock  had  been  all  his  life  deeply  interested 
in  national  politics.  He  believed  the  moral  integrity  of 
the  State  to  be  as  vitally  important  as  the  integrity  of 
the  individual.  He  could  not  be  deluded  by  the  sophis- 
try that  a  commonwealth  composed  of  moral  beings  can 
exist  for  ends  in  which  morals  have  no  place.  It  was  his 
opinion  that  the  State  should  be  served  by  citizens  of 
the  purest  character  and  highest  culture,  and  he  deplored 
the  separation  which  has  been  going  on  for  so  many 
years  between  the  best  classes  of  American  society  and 
its  political  administration.  He  by  no  means  considered 
it  his  duty  to  confine  himself  to  watching  and  praying 
while  political  managers  took  the  country  far  on  the 
road  to  destruction.  Nor  could  he  be  warned  off  by  the 
clamor  which,  despite  our  sufferings,  is  popular  still,  that 
scholars  are  not  sufficiently  practical  to  deal  with  political 


328  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

issues.  He  had  learned  from  Lord  Bacon  that  it  can- 
not but  be  a  matter  of  doubtful  consequence  if  States  be 
managed  by  empiric  statesmen,  not  well  mingled  with 
men  grounded  in  learning."  Dr.  M'Clintock  claimed  a 
place  for  the  scholar  in  politics,  and,  true  to  his  convic- 
tions, struck  strong  blows  for  the  right  whenever  he  saw 
a  fit  occasion. 

The  sneers  that  scholars,  in  serving  the  State,  are 
not  supple  and  worldly-wise,  were  treated  by  him  with 
the  contempt  which  they  deserve.  His  teacher,  Bacon, 
had  reminded  him  again,  that  ''although  men  bred  in 
learning  are,  perhaps,  to  seek  in  points  of  convenience 
and  accommodating  for  the  present,  yet,  to  recompense 
that,  they  are  perfect  in  those  same  plain  grounds  of  re- 
ligion, justice,  honor,  and  moral  virtue,  which,  if  they 
be  well  and  watchfully  pursued,  there  will  be  seldom  need 
of  those  other,  no  more  than  of  physic  in  a  sound  and 
well-dieted  body."  Few  Americans  were  better  versed 
than  he  in  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and  its 
history.  He  could  cite  its  provisions  with  a  readiness 
which  often  silenced  an  over-confident  debater.  He  was 
heart-sick  of  the  reign  of  empirical  statesmen  and  empir- 
ical statesmanship,  and  longed  to  see  the  day  when  the 
most  capable  citizens  should  be  called,  not  exceptionally, 
but  as  the  rule,  to  places  of  public  trust. 

His  vigorous  activity  during  the  war,  therefore,  was 
not  out  of  the  line  of  his  habitual  conduct.  To  a  friend 
who  gently  chided  him  for  his  great  zeal  in  the  national 
cause,  he  replied :  "  The  family  and  the  Church  can  only 
exist  under  the  wing  of  Government :  if  that  is  gone,  all 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  329 

is  gone.  With  these  views  it  appears  to  me  to  be  the 
duty  of  every  man  to  use  his  influence  to  sustain  the  Gov- 
ernment which  protects  him."  While,  therefore,  he  was 
never  betrayed  into  an  act  unsuitable  to  his  position  as 
a  Christian  minister,  he  let  it  be  known  to  all  that  his 
voice,  pen,  and  means  were  unhesitatingly  given  to  the 
service  of  his  country.  The  effect  of  his  energetic  exer- 
tions was  felt  and  recognized  by  Americans  all  over 
Europe.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Hurst,  who  lived  at  Frankfort- 
on-the-Main  during  our  late  civil  war,  wrote  from  that 
important  continental  centre :  "  Unless  one  has  been 
in  Europe,  and-  even  lived  here,  and  come  in  contact 
with  some  of  the  Americans  who  reside  abroad,  making 
Paris  their  head-quarters,  but  yet  circulating  for  pleasure 
or  improvement  from  country  to  country  and  city  to  city, 
it  is  extremely  difficult  to  comprehend  the  magnitude 
of  Dr.  M'Clintock's  services.  There  was  not  a  United 
States  consulate  in  Europe  where  his  influence  was  not 
felt  in  behalf  of  the  country's  struggle  for  integrity,  and 
probably  not  an  adult  American  living  here,  or  in  the 
countries  around  the  Mediterranean,  whom  his  words, 
spoken  in  public  or  private  for  the  national  cause,  and 
reproduced  in  the  *Galignani'  newspaper,  did  not 
reach." 

During  the  dark  period  from  1862  to  1863  he  was 
abundant  in  hope,  though  often  depressed  by  the  re- 
verses of  our  national  arms.  He  still,  however,  worked 
on,  writing,  speaking,  cheering  the  faint,  and  pouring  out 
his  overwrought  feeling  in  his  correspondence  with  friends 
at  home. 


330 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


To  Mr.  C.  C.  North. 

Paris,  January  7, 1862. 
We  are  still  full  of  anxiety  and  excitement  about  the  Trent  trouble. 
We  expected  a  settlement  of  it  by  the  Europa,  but  her  news  is  not 
decisive.  If  it  were  not  so  serious  a  matter,  it  would  be  amusing  to 
read  the  comments  of  the  New  York  papers,  and  such  speeches  as 
Hale's,  in  the  Senate,  talking  of  Napoleon  III.  anxious  to  avenge  Wa- 
terloo, etc.  I  fancy  the  receipt  of  Thouvenel's  dispatch  has  changed 
all  that.  Napoleon  is  determined  to  keep  the  English  alliance  at 
any  cost,  and  he  will  never  join  us  against  England,  unless  driven  to 
it  by  French  public  opinion.  Unfortunately,  not  only  French  public 
opinion,  but  the  opinion  of  the  whole  continent,  is  against  us  in 
the  Trent  matter.  If  we  must  fight  England,  as  appears  not  un- 
likely, let  us  wait  till  we  get  a  case  in  which  the  world  will  stand 
by  us.  But  I  hope  that  after  this  Trent  business  is  settled  a 
better  state  of  feeling  will  arise  in  England.  Had  our  Government 
taken  the  proper  means  to  enlighten  public  opinion  in  France  and 
England  during  the  last  four  months,  we  should  be  in  a  very  dif- 
ferent position  now.  Arthur  deserves  the  thanks  of  every  American. 
He  has  worked  nobly,  and  with  great  success,  too,  especially  since 
the  Trent  imbroglio  began. 

In  reviewing  the  year  at  the  Chapel  we  have  great  reason  to 
thank  God.  In  spite  of  the  vicissitudes  of  the  time,  our  congrega- 
tions are  as  good  as  ever,  and  we  are  gradually  gathering  Americans 
in  who  have  never  attended  before.  I  never  had  more  attentive 
hearers,  though  I  never  preached  plainer  or  more  direct  sermons 
in  my  life.  Last  week  I  had  an  earnest  letter  of  inquiry — the  cry  of 
a  convicted  soul.  Recently  several  southern  families — from  Mobile, 
Charleston,  and  Savannah — have  taken  pews.  The  great  drawback 
upon  my  comfort  and  usefulness  has  been  my  knee.  It  has  hindered 
me  from  pastoral  visiting,  as  going  up  and  down  stairs  is  the  worst 
thing  for  it,  and  most  people  here  live  up  three  or  four  pairs  of 
stairs.  My  own  apartment  is  on  what  would  be  the  third  floor  in 
America,  and  when  I  go  up  and  down  it  twice  a  day,  it  is  as  much  as 
I  ought  to  do,  without  further  trial  of  the  knee.    As  yet  I  can  only 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


walk  a  short  distance,  so  that  my  visits  have  to  be  made  in  cabs,  and 
the  expense  is  too  great  to  allow  a  constant  use  of  them.  All  this 
has  hindered  my  pastoral  service,  greatly  to  my  sorrow ;  but  I  have 
done  the  best  I  could,  and  must  leave  the  result  with  God. 

To  Mr.  T.  N,  Dale. 

Pakib,  January  13, 1S62. 

Emory  goes  to  secure  a  position  in  civil  or  military  life.  He  has 
promised  me  to  seek  a  civil  position  first,  in  some  of  the  lines  for 
which  his  education  would  so  thoroughly  fit  him.  Failing  in  that,  he 
will  seek  a  military  post.  My  fear  is,  that  his  constitution  is  not 
strong  enough  to  bear  the  fatigue.    But  Providence  will  direct. 

The  rendition  of  Mason  and  Shdell  has  made  us  all  happy.  The 
Trent  papers  cover  Lincoln  and  Seward  with  garlands.  England  has 
thus  given  up  a  claim  of  right  to  take  persons  out  of  neutral  ships, 
about  which  we  have  been  contending  with  her  for  half  a  century. 
Thank  God ! 

To  Mrs.  Dr.  A.  S.  Piirdy. 

Paris,  January  30, 1S62. 

The  pressure  of  public  and  private  griefs  has  affected  my  health  a 
great  deal  of  late.  I  could  doubtless  bear  all  things  better  if  I  could 
take  necessary  out-of-door  exercise ;  but  my  knee  continues  to  for- 
bid that,  and  of  course  the  physical  organization  obeys  the  physical 
laws,  and  suffers.  I  have  lost  a  great  deal  of  flesh,  going  back  rath- 
er to  the  size  and  weight  at  which  you  knew  me  when  a  boy,  than  to 
that  of  my  later  years.  Whether  this  is  a  bad  sign  or  not  I  do  not 
know,  but  yet  it  is  very  comfortable  to  be  well  cushioned  with  fat. 
It  shields  one's  nerves,  and  wards  off  many  a  blow  at  sensitive  points. 
But  you  must  not  think  I  am  going  to  sticks,  or  that  I  have  given 
up  to  low  spirits.  I  cannot  be  insensible  to  the  public  troubles  of  the 
time,  to  the  fearful  state  of  our  country,  to  the  private  sufferings  of 
my  family  and  friends.  All  these  things  pierce  me  to  the  heart.  Yet 
I  retain  full  confidence  in  God,  and  have  never  yet  seen  the  day  in 
which  I  could  not  "  cast  all  my  care  "  on  him. 

I  sometimes  think  our  situation  makes  us  more  ner\'ous  about  the 


332 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


war  and  its  results  than  you  can  be  at  home.  You  get  news  every 
djiy,  but  we  are  kept  on  the  stretch  from  week  to  \\eek,  waiting  the 
arrival  of  the  steamers,  and  when  they  do  come  we  tremble  to  open 
letters  and  papers  for  fear  of  bad  news.  We  are  now  waiting  most 
anxiously,  for  the  last  news  was,  that  a  general  movement  would  take 
place.    God  deliver  our  distracted  country  ! 

If  God  will,  we  shall  remain  here  at  least  until  the  spring  of  1863, 
as  all  the  indications  of  Providence  point  out  this  as  my  post  of  duty. 
As  long  as  these  indications  remain  the  same,  I  shall  stay.  Pray  that 
my  work  may  be  owned  and  blessed  of  God.  I  often  yearn  to  see 
you  and  all  my  dear  friends  on  the  other  side  of  the  water ;  but 
homesickness  is  not  wholesome  for  body  or  soul,  and  so  I  check  it, 
and  try  to  be  as  happy  and  contented  as  possible. 

To  Mr.  Lemuel  Bangs. 

Paris,  March  29, 1862. 

The  springs  of  Wildbad,  in  Germany,  it  is  said,  will  cure  all  my  ail- 
ments, but  I  can't  go  there  till  June.  This  illusion,  you  see,  is,  there- 
fore, good  for  three  months.  What  a  blessed  arrangement  it  is,  that 
we  have  one  illusion  thus  after  another,  to  keep  up  our  spirits,  and 
to  carry  us  on  through  life.  It  is  a  proof  of  immortality  :  there  wz'll 
come  a  time  v/hen  hope  shall  be  realized. 

So  M'Clellan  has  let  the  rebels  escape  him.  His  star  is  waning :  I 
hope  he  will  be  able  to  brighten  it  up  again  soon.  The  Monitor  and 
Merrimac  have  awakened  more  attention  in  Europe  than  Manasses, 
simply  because  people  are  interested  here  in  the  question  of  iron- 
plated  ships.  The  English  begin  to  think  that  if  we  can  build  Mon- 
itors in  one  hundred  days,  it  would  not  be  so  easy  to  crush  us,  even 
with  "  Warriors."  The  old  heroic  stories  of  wooden  walls  will  do 
now  for  stories,  Hke  the  tournament  battles  of  the  Middle  Ages. 

All  Europe  is  thrilled  with  the  proposal  to  initiate  compensated 
emancipation.  It  is  the  true  issue  and  end  of  the  slavery  question. 
Push  it  all  you  can. 

I  feel  the  homesickness  coming  stronger  upon  me  now  that  Emory 
has  gone.  Moreover,  my  health  is  leaving  me  all  the  time.  I  fear  I 
am  trying  to  do  too  much.    Yet  I  am  not  willing  to  leave  this  post 


THE  REV.  DR.  xM'CLINTOCK.  333 

so  long  as  it  clearly  appears  my  duty  to  stay  here,  as  it  now  does. 
The  spring  is,  with  us,  beautiful  and  delicious.  The  chestnut  and 
the  locust  trees  are  full  of  leaf,  and  the  cherry-  trees  are  flowering. 
We  are  several  weeks  in  advance  of  New  York  in  the  spring.  Poli- 
tics were  very  tier)'  here  a  few  weeks  ago,  but  they  have  quieted  down 
— plenty  of  arrests.  My  American  papers  were  nearly  all  opened  at 
the  post-office  last  week — the  first  time  it  has  happened  since  I  have 
been  here.  My  London  "  Star"  has  only  been  permitted  to  reach 
me  two  days  out  of  six.  These  are  signs  of  timidity,  even  in  this 
strong  Government — really  a  very  good  Government,  too. 

Parts,  April  2S,  1S62. 

I  hope  your  prognostications  as  to  the  state  of  your  father  and 
mother's  health  will  not  be  realized,  and  that  this  letter  will  arrive  in 
time  to  convey  my  cordial,  affectionate,  and  reverential  regards  and 
sympathies  to  them.  Take  it  all  together,  in  spite  of  their  share  of 
the  common  evils  that  afflict  humanity,  and  their  endurance  of  some 
of  the  uncommon  ones,  their  life  together  has  been  a  singularly  hap- 
py and  successful  one.  Most  of  the  aims  of  life  they  have  achieved 
— the  very  highest  aims  they  have  achieved  fully  and  successfully. 
Now  they  are  going  down  to  the  grave  with  gray  hairs — crowns  of 
glory — and  attended  by  "honor,  love,  obedience,  troops  of  friends" 
— most  of  all,  with  the  light  of  the  city  of  God  gleaming  brightly  out 
for  them  beforehand  in  their  living  and  dying  faith.  And  for  you  it 
is  a  rich  inheritance,  the  treasure  of  their  good  lives  and  their  good 
name.  God  bless  them  both,  if  they  are  living,  with  the  richest  out- 
flow of  his  grace  in  their  last  days  ! 

We  are  waiting,  tremulously,  the  news  by  the  Niagara.  It  is  ex- 
pected to  bring  us  reports  from  M'Clellan. 

To  the  Rev.  Andrew  Longacre. 

Paris,  "Wednesday,  May  7, 1S62. 

The  last  part  of  your  letter  has  affected  my  feelings  very  much. 
My  own  fear  always  has  been,  with  reference  to  you,  as  to  all  others 
that  come  under  my  influence,  that  the  flagrant  weaknesses  of  my 
character  must  do  more  harm  than  any  virtues  I  possess  could  do 


334 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


good.  If  it  be  otherwise,  I  thank  God  for  overruling  mercies,  as 
Cromwell  would  say.  It  may  be  a  comfort  to  you  to  know  that  your 
presence  with  us  has  had  a  most  excellent  effect  upon  our  entire 
household,  and  that  you  leave  us  bearing  the  affection  of  each  and 
all  away  with  you.  If  you  can  drop  a  line  from  Liverpool  before  you 
sail,  do  so.    God  send  you  a  prosperous  and  speedy  voyage  ! 

To  Mr.  Lemuel  Bangs. 

Paris,  Mnrj  29,  1862. 

Your  grand  old  father  has  gone  to  his  rest  at  last.  His  end  was 
indeed  a  euthanasy — ^just  such  as  was  to  be  expected  after  such  a 
life.  Seldom  have  the  ends  of  life  been  so  completely  accomplished 
as  in  his  case.  His  career  is  now  iotus,  teres,  atqiie  rotundus.  What 
a  legacy  for  you  !  what  a  memory  for  the  Church  and  for  the  coun- 
try !  What  a  thorough  man  he  was — so  tender,  and  yet  so  strong ; 
so  fervent  in  his  love,  and  yet  so  honest,  and  even  hot,  in  his  indigna- 
tions ;  so  clear-headed,  and  yet  so  confiding.  I  consider  it  one  of  the 
blessings  of  my  later  life  that  it  was  spent  at  New  York  at  a  time 
when  I  could  see  so  much  of  him  :  I  now  only  regret  that  I  did  not 
see  more.  Nor  have  I  any  better  consciousness  than  the  belief  that 
I  enjoyed  his  affection  and  confidence. 

Make  my  kindest  regards  and  most  cordial  sympathies  to  your 
mother,  who,  in  spite  of  all  appearances,  has  thus  been  allowed  to 
see  how  men  in  all  lands  are  honoring  the  memory  of  her  husband. 

The  news  from  home  is  all  cheering,  so  far  as  it  goes.  The  En- 
glish press  hides  its  real  import  from  the  people  as  much  as  possible, 
disparages  our  military  successes,  and  does  ever)^thing  it  can  to  bol- 
ster up  the  rebel  cause  and  to  prolong  the  rebellion.  How  fearful 
is  this  wickedness,  wrought,  too,  at  the  expense  of  the  poor  manu- 
facturers of  Lancashire.  I  have  just  returned  from  Yorkshire,  where 
there  is  little  distress,  as  that  is  a  woollen  region.  The  politics 
of  Yorkshire  are  strongly  liberal,  and  we  have  very  many  friends 
there.  But  the  ignorance  of  the  middle  classes  is  astounding.  They 
believe  anything  they  read  in  their  morning  paper,  and  their  knowl- 
edge, thus  obtained,  is  dogmatically  asserted  in  conversation.  But 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


335 


I  found  a  great  change  in  six  months :  not,  indeed,  any  increase 
of  good  feehng  toward  us,  but  much  less  arrogance,  much  more  re- 
spect. Monitors  and  armies  will  probably  teach  John  Bull  manners 
yet.  Arthur  is  now  on  his  high  horse.  All  his  views  and  predictions 
are  coming  out  right— just  as  we  knew  they  would,  and  as  most  of 
the  preachers  in  England  believed  they  would  not.  He  had  to  "  run 
a  muck  "  last  winter  for  his  Americanism,  but  it's  working  round  now. 

We  are  all  on  the  qui  vive  to  get  at  the  bottom  of  Hunter's  procla- 
mation of  freedom.  I  suppose  it  will  turn  out  that  he  anticipated  Mr. 
Lincoln's  order  a  little.  But  I  am  more  and  more  satisfied  that  the 
rebellion  will  never  be  effectually  suppressed  without  the  abolition  of 
slaver}'.    God  will  work  it  all  out. 

While  working  with  the  prodigious  energy  here  de- 
scribed, Dr.  M'Clintock  was  so  lame  from  the  affection  of 
the  knee,  of  which  he  speaks  repeatedly  in  his  letters,  that 
he  was  almost  entirely  disabled  from  walking,  and  was 
compelled  to  sit  on  a  high  chair  or  stool  while  preaching 
and  conducting  the  other  services  of  the  American  Chapel. 
He  was  advised  to  try  the  waters  of  Homburg,  and  went 
thither  for  a  month's  rest  in  the  latter  part  of  June,  1862. 
Learning  late  on  the  evening  of  July  3  that  the  Americans 
in  Frankfort  intended  to  celebrate  our  national  anniver- 
sary, he  went  over  on  the  morning  of  the  Fourth,  and  list- 
ened with  great  delight  to  the  addresses  of  his  countrymen 
there  assembled.  Being  himself  called  on,  after  the  rep- 
resentative of  Her  Britannic  Majesty  to  the  German  Con- 
federation had  spoken,  he  said  in  the  course  of  his  ad- 
dress to  the  company:  "  His  lordship  has  informed  you 
that  the  United  States  bids  fair  to  be  a  great  nation. 
Permit  me  to  inform  his  lordship  that  the  United  States 
is  a  great  nation."    Of  the  patriotic  spirit  of  our  consul- 


33^ 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


general,  Mr.  Murphy,  who  presided  on  the  occasion.  Dr. 
M'Clintock  was  in  the  habit  of  speaking  in  terms  of  the 
highest  praise. 

To  Mr,  Lemuel  Bangs, 

Paris,  September  10, 1862. 

We  have  just  received  a  lot  of  confused  telegrams  about  Bull  Run, 
Manasses,  Centreville,  and  Leesburg,  from  all  which  we  gather  that 
our  brave  fellows  are  fighting  now  the  fields  that  M'Clellan  ought 
to  have  fought  last  December !  and  with  what  result  we  know  not. 
God  grant  that  the  next  news  may  not  be  the  capture  of  Washing- 
ton !  But,  on  the  other  hand,  there  seems  to  be  a  grand  chance  for 
our  generals  to  destroy  the  whole  rebel  army,  if  they  will  only  em- 
brace it.  To  help  crush  us,  on  this  side,  comes  the  president's  colo- 
nization speech,  telling  the  negroes  of  the  South,  in  substance,  that 
they  have  no  choice  but  slavery  or  exile  !  At  all  events  that  is  the 
way  it  will  be  represented  to  them,  and  that  is  the  way  it  is  repre- 
sented to  Europe. 

I  made  several  speeches  in  London  last  week,  and  tried  to  do  some 
good.  I  found  plenty  of  religious  sympathy,  but,  as  for  political  sym- 
pathy with  us,  in  England,  it  does  not  exist,  except  in  a  very  few  noble 
souls  far  ahead  of  the  times.  Arthur  keeps  in  his  high  place,  and  looks 
down  with  pity  upon  his  mistaken  brethren.  But  even  he  thinks  our 
Government  has  failed  to  meet  the  occasion  :  that  we  have  had  an 
army  of  heroes  led  by — not  a  donkey,  but  a  military  pedant. 

We  have  recently  been  cheered  by  the  sight  of  some  Methodist 
preachers — De  Hass,  Foster,  Keeler,  Vincent,  and  Haven.  You 
can't  imagine  what  a  pleasure  it  is  to  see  their  faces.  We  see  plenty 
of  other  people,  and  plenty  of  other  preachers,  but  the  Methodist 
s>Tnpathy  is  a  very  strong  thing. 

To  the  Rev.  Andrew  Longacre. 

Paris,  September  30, 1862. 

Your  letter  seems  to  imply  that  I  wished  you  to  become  an  apostle 
of  amalgamation.  I  must  have  expressed  myself  very  unfortunately. 
I  do  not  see  the  connexion  between  getting  rid  of  the  feeling  of  caste 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


337 


on  the  one  hand,  and  admitting  negroes  to  social  equality  with  whites 
on  the  other.  There  is  no  social  equality  in  England,  yet  there  is  no 
caste.  I  should  oppose  amalgamation,  even  with  Chinese;  but  1 
should  not  treat  Chinese  as  though  they  were  pariahs,  notwithstand- 
ing. All  these  minor  points  would  regulate  themselves  if  we  once  do 
justice  to  the  negroes.  It  takes  all  one's  Christian  patience  to  get 
on  with  our  English  friends.  But,  then,  how  much  we  ought  to 
love  and  honor  Arthur  and  the  rest,  who  behave  so  nobly.  They 
have  fought,  and  are  fighting,  against  a  tremendous  public  opinion. 

I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  Arthur,  which  I  send  you  as  a  spe- 
cimen of  the  way  in  which  our  military  affairs  look  to  the  friendliest 
eyes  here  :  "  Surely  it  is  for  some  great  purpose  that  Providence  has 
denied  the  North  a  general,  M'Clellan  is  a  mere  engineer,  with  con- 
fidence in  plans,  guns,  and  trenches — none  in  men.  He  would  ruin  a 
hundred  armies  after  he  had  organized  them.  I  don't  know  what  to 
think  of  Pope.  I  did  think  him  the  best  man  on  the  ground,  but  the 
last  affair  looks  all  against  his  generalship.  If  they  will  only  march 
and  act,  they  must,  however  they  fail,  at  last  succeed ;  but  men  who 
never  stir  till  they  have  to  repel  an  attack,  are  ten  times  worse  than 
enemies.  It  is  the  strong  giving  the  weak  all  the  advantages  of  a 
better  position."  More  truth  than  poetry  in  this  I  fear.  Our  con- 
gregations at  the  chapel  continue  large.  A  number  of  southerners 
come,  even  secessionists. 

Paeis,  October  28, 1862. 

I  hope  it  will  increase  your  respect  for  me  when  I  tell  you  that 
yesterday,  October  27th,  was  my  forty-eighth  birthday.  No  bells 
were  rung,  no  bonfires  lighted,  not  even  an  extra  bit  oi pain  d''epice 
was  bought  for  dinner.  A  number  of  our  friends,  indeed,  gathered  in 
the  evening,  and  we  gave  them  tea  and  cake,  as  usual ;  but,  alas  ! 
they  came,  not  because  it  was  my  birthday,  but  because  it  was  Mon- 
day. After  all,  perhaps,  the  people  were  right.  What  is  the  use 
of  rejoicing,  at  least  in  a  worldly  way,  because  one  is  a  year  older  ? 

I  have  not  been  very  well  for  a  while ;  but  I  have  no  right  to  com- 
plain as  long  as  I  can  preach  twice  on  Sunday,  even  though  the 
23 


v338  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

preaching  be  not  xery  vigorous.  We  have  had  quite  a  deluge  of 
P^nglish  friends  and  English  weather  for  the  opening  of  their  new 
fChapel.  Poor  souls — every  service  almost  has  been  reached  through 
torrents  of  rain,  and  O,  the  mud  !  I  intend,  if  God  will,  to  give  my- 
self a  good  rest  from  writing  and  from  work,  except  my  parish  work, 
,for  some  weeks  or  months,  if  so  be  I  may  get  stronger  thereby.  In 
all  things,  however,  I  am  content,  satisfied,  and  happy,  knowing 
that  all  things  work  together  for  good. 

To  Mr.  J.  D.  Wendel. 

Pabis,  December  2, 1862. 

You  see  that  I  write  upon  the  anniversary  of  the  coup  d'etat  of 
1852.  The  emperor  has  kept  his  place  longer  than  the  people 
thought  he  would.  But  his  imperial  crown  is  not  made  of  roses — or, 
if  it  be,  there  are  plenty  of  thorns  among  the  flowers.  I  hope,  how- 
ever, that  his  Government  is  in  no  immediate  danger. 

The  removal  of  M'Clellan  has  caused  a  good  deal  of  stir  here,  as 
at  home.  The  preponderance  of  approbation  is  greatly  in  favor  of 
the  act.  The  general  sentiment  is  that,  no  matter  what  his  talents,  a 
man  who  has  had  command  of  so  great  an  army  for  nearly  eighteen 
months,  and  was  found  at  the  end  of  that  time  nearly  where  he  was 
at  the  beginning,  ought  to  be  superseded  by  a  new  hand.  It  is  to  be 
hoped  that  Burnside  will  be  more  successful.  The  secessionists  here 
do  not  approve  of  the  change  of  commanders  at  all. 

I  preached  on  Thanksgiving  Day  from  Psa.  cvii,  31,  and  endeavor- 
ed to  show  the  many  grounds  of  thankfulness  we  have,  even  amid 
the  civil  war.  They  are  not  few.  Even  now  there  is  more  freedom, 
quiet,  prosperity,  and  security  for  life  and  property  in  the  northern 
states  than  in  any  European  countiy.  It  is  not  safe,  nowadays,  to 
walk  London  streets  even  by  daylight — or  by  the  dim  fog-light  which 
passes  for  daylight  there.  People  are  knocked  down,  choked,  robbed, 
and  half-killed,  at  all  hours  of  the  day,  in  the  most  public  thorough- 
fares. If  all  this  were  to  happen  in  New  York,  what  lectures  the 
"Times"  would  give  us  on  the  "blessings  of  Democratic  govern- 
ment !  "    And  in  France,  stories  of  plots,  of  risings  of  workmen, 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


339 


strikes,  of  suppression  of  news,  etc.,  are  the  order  of  the  day.  The 
present  condition  of  our  people  is  one  of  the  subHmest  things  in  his- 
tory, and  is  a  complete  vindication  of  the  superiority  of  repubHcan 
institutions  with  all  their  perils. 

The  congregations  in  the  chapel  have  kept  up  excellently.  People 
are  very  poor,  however.  Exchange  at  1.46  makes  even  rich  people 
poor — of  course  poor  people  are  poorer  yet.  But  there  is  no  suffer- 
ing from  want,  thank  God  !  and  until  there  is  suffering  no  one  knows 
what  poverty  is.  I  should  be  glad  to  get  back  home,  to  see  the  dear 
old  land,  and  to  see  all  the  friendly  faces  again  ;  but  Providence 
seems  to  will  that  we  should  stay  here  some  time  longer. 

To  Mr.  C.  C.  North. 

Pai:is,  Deceviher  15,  1S62. 

I  do  not  know  whether  you  are  in  debt  to  me  or  not ;  but  you  will 
be,  at  all  events,  when  you  receive  this  letter. 

We  have  had  a  great  deal  of  illness  in  our  household  during  the 
last  four  months,  and  have  kept  quite  a  hospital.  But  amid  it  all  we 
have  been  a  cheerful,  happy,  and  contented  household.  "  No  changes 
of  season  or  place  have  made  any  change  in  our  minds."  God's 
mercy  is  ever  the  uppermost  theme  of  our  hearts  and  of  our  songs. 
I  thank  him  that  he  has  given  us  this  crowning  blessing  of  content- 
ment, and  of  resignation  to  his  blessed  will. 

The  year's  work  at  the  chapel  has  been  also  an  occasion  of  great 
thankfulness,  I  have  lost,  I  think,  but  three  Sundays  from  illness, 
and  have  always  preached  twice  a  day,  except  when  I  have  had 
the  help  of  visiting  brethren  ;  and  my  health  is  better,  I  think,  at 
the  end  of  the  year  than  it  was  at  the  beginning.  Our  con- 
gregations have  kept  up  steadily,  and  are  as  good  now  as  at 
the  best  times  of  prosperity.  I  have  received  several  persons  into 
the  Church  on  profession  of  faith.  Last  week  I  baptized  two  young 
ladies.  I  have  heard  of  fruit  to  the  word,  in  many  instances,  to  the 
glory  of  God.  We  have  had  no  disputes  or  bickerings,  no  questions 
about  forms  of  worship,  or  about  anything  else.  As  one  of  the  good 
signs,  we  have  a  number  of  southern  people  regularly  worshipping 


340 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


with  us,  though  they  hear  the  most  earnest  prayers  every  Sunday  for 
the  authorities  of  the  country,  and  for  the  triumph  of  the  good  cause. 

The  indications  of  Providence  are  that  I  shall  remain  here  for  an- 
other year  at  least.  I  have  been,  and  am,  happy  in  my  work,  but  I 
will  not  disguise  from  you  an  occasional  homesickness,  especially 
during  the  dark  days  of  the  civil  war.  But  here  again  I  am  satisfied 
that,  so  far  as  my  own  feeble  efforts  go,  they  have  been,  perhaps,  more 
useful  to  the  country  on  this  side  of  the  water  than  they  would  have 
been  on  the  other.  Some  day  I  hope  to  have  the  privilege  of  talking 
with  you  over  all  these  matters. 

We  are  to  have  a  series  of  meetings  this  week  at  the  Wesleyan 
Chapel  and  at  the  American  Chapel,  which  will,  I  hope,  be  produc- 
tive of  good.  I  wish  we  could  see  your  face  and  have  your  help 
here,  for  a  time  at  least. 

To  Mr.  Lemuel  Bangs. 

Paris,  February  26, 1863. 

I  have  been  greatly  edified  and  comforted  within  the  last  few  days 
by  reading  the  "  Olive  Branch,  by  Matthew  Carey,  Bookseller,"  1815, 
8vo.  It  gives  full  accounts  of  the  evils  of  the  times,  party  spirit,  etc., 
with  documents,  and  is,  as  nearly  as  may  be,  a  mirror  of  the  present 
state  of  things,  only  now  all  is  on  a  bigger  scale.  The  thing  that 
hath  been  is  the  thing  that  shall  be.  And  as  we  came  out  of  the 
difficulty  then,  so,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  I  think  we  shall  now. 
The  election  of  Morgan,  and  the  general  results  at  Albany,  are,  on 
the  whole,  very  encouraging.  Public  opinion  in  England  is  getting 
right  from  below.  The  ruling  classes  are  very  angry,  but  they  can- 
not arrest  the  rising  of  the  popular  tide.  It  will  overwhelm  the  abet- 
tors of  rebeldom  and  slavery  by  and  by.  As  for  France,  Poland  and 
Mexico  absorb  all  its  faculties.  Appearances  now  indicate  a  war  be- 
tween France  and  Prussia  ;  but  no  one  can  judge  by  appearances,  or 
even  by  the  promises  of  the  present  French  government.  Our  men  at 
Washington  will  be  surely  duped  if  they  trust  to  words  ;  acts  are  the 
only  rehable  thing. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLIXTOCK. 


Leeds,  JIarc7i  6,  1863. 

The  Emancipation  Society  has  changed  the  face  of  things  in  En- 
gland very  much.  Indeed,  one  would  not  believe  that  so  great  a 
change  could  be  so  soon  effected.  Seward's  reply  to  the  French  pro- 
posal has  filled  us  all  with  exultation.  We  hold  up  our  heads  with 
the  old  American  feeling. 

Upon  hearing  that  a  detachment  of  Lee's  army  had 
entered  Carlisle,  in  June,  1863,  Dr.  M'CHntock  makes  this 
entry  in  his  diary: — 

"Monday,  July  13. — The  rebels  are  in  possession  of  our  old  home 
at  Carlisle.  I  suppose  I  shall  get  no  more  rents  from  that  quarter  this 
year.  Eight  years  ago,  in  that  very  house  in  Carlisle,  I  told  my  wife 
that  it  would  be  an  unsafe  residence  in  case  of  the  outbreak  of  civil 
war,  which  was  sure  to  come  some  day,  and  that  therefore  we  should 
leave  it.  We  did  leave  it.  Many  laughed  then  at  the  idea  of  civil 
war,  but  we  upon  the  border  knew  better." 

General  Early,  who  took  possession  of  the  town,  gave 
the  people  a  great  fright  by  recklessly  shelling  it, 
and  sending  men,  women,  and  children  to  the  cellars  of 
their  homes  for  refuge.  It  should  be  said,  however,  to 
the  honor  of  the  Confederate  officers,  that  they  used 
special  care  to  protect  the  college.  Some  of  them  had, 
most  likely,  in  the  days  of  their  youth,  shivered,  on 
many  a  winter  morning,  in  the  chill  air  of  its  high-ceiled 
chapel,  had  been  familiar  with  its  long  stretches  of  hall- 
way, and  had  been  governed  by  the  routine  of  its  life. 

The  prediction,  in  this  instance,  of  what  was  likely  to 
come,  is  an  illustration  of  Dr.  M'Clintock's  habitually 
clear  outlook  upon  pubHc  events. 


342 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


Mr.  J.  D.  Weiidel. 

Pauis,  August  18,  1863. 

Our  trip  to  Homburg  was  very  beneficial  to  us  all  around.  As 
you  will  have  learned,  we  have  really  had  an  American  summer. 
Thermometer  ninety  to  one  hundred  degrees  ;  grass  all  dried  up, 
streams  running  dry,  trees  almost  leafless,  etc.  The  Bois  looks  like 
an  American  forest  of  the  middle  of  August.  Yesterday  brought  us 
relief — a  little  rain,  and  a  change  of  thermometer  from  ninety  to 
seventy-five  degrees.    You  may  imagine  how  we  rejoiced  in  it. 

We  have  had  the  pleasure  of  enjoying  American  company  of  the 
Methodist  sort — which  I  think  about  the  best  sort — recently.  Mr. 
Elliott  and  family  and  Mr.  Oliver  Hoyt  have  been  here  for  a  week 
past.    Governor  Wright  is  expected  to-day  or  to-morrow. 

The  war  goes  on  as  fast  and  as  well  as  Providence  allows.  That 
is  my  comfort  amid  all  discouragements.  It  will  end,  "I  do  not  doubt, 
in  the  downfall  of  rebellion  and  slavery.  Then  we  shall  have  per- 
manent peace.  The  emperor  of  the  French  is  doing  in  Mexico  what 
his  reputed  uncle  did  in  Spain  —  preparing  the  overthrow  of  his  dy- 
nasty. I  do  not  think  the  boy  Napoleon  will  ever  sit  upon  his 
father's  throne. 

To  Mr.  Lemuel  Ba?igs. 

Paris,  September  21,  1863. 

We  were  all  a  good  deal  broken  down  in  health  in  the  early  sum- 
mer. To  recruit,  we  spent  four  weeks  in  Homburg,  and  then  in 
England. 

Every  one  is  nervous  about  war  between  France  and  America. 
The  French  people  do  not  want  it,  and  it  will  be  a  fearful  risk  for 
the  emperor  to  run.  I  have  the  chance  of  knowing  that  he  has 
recently  been  giving  special  attention  himself  to  American  affairs, 
and  not  depending  so  much  upon  what  Slidell  and  other  people  tell 
him.  If  the  elections  in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  go  for  the  adminis- 
tration, I  do  not  think  he  will  even  help  the  rebels.  As  for  any  moral 
consideration  having  weight  with  him,  or  with  the  British  Govern- 
ment either,  that  is  entirely  out  of  the  question.  Our  Dahlgrens  and 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


343 


Parrotts  are  the  only  arguments  that  have  any  weight  with  these 
people,  and  they  have  a  great  deal  of  weight. 

I  feel  a  stronger  yearning  for  home  than  ever.  When  we  do  come 
it  will  probably  be  to  seek  some  quiet  spot  where  I  may  preserve  my 
health  of  throat  in  spite  of  the  climate. 

I  have  just  heard  that  the  Government  has  forbidden  the  Impe- 
rialist papers  here  to  attack  the  American  Government  as  they  have 
been  doing.  This  is  very  significant,  and  I  trust  it  is  the  omen  of  a 
decision  in  the  emperor's  mind  to  let  us  alone.  If  there  be  a  war,  it 
will  be  a  very  fearful  thing  for  us  all,  but  not  necessarily  destructive 
to  us.  Indeed,  my  faith  in  the  destiny  of  our  country,  and  in  the 
goodness  of  God,  is  as  firm  as  ever,  if  not  firmer.  Believing  that 
he  is  with  us  I  cannot  be  afraid,  no  matter  who  may  be  against  us. 
In  public  affairs,  and  in  private,  I  can  fully  trust  in  his  kind  and  be- 
nignant providence. 

To  Mr.  C.  C.  North. 

Paris,  October  29,  1SG3. 

By  this  steamer  I  send  notice  to  Dr.  Campbell  that  I  must  resign 
the  American  Chapel  next  spring.  I  give  notice  thus  early  that  there 
may  be  ample  time  to  provide  a  successor.  My  term  of  house-rent 
ends  April  1-15,  and  at  that  time,  or  thereabouts,  I  wish  to  leave.  It 
is  thought  that  a  few  months  in  the  English  climate  may  be  benefi- 
cial to  my  wife's  health,  and  we  shall,  therefore,  probably  remain  in 
England  until  the  autumn.  The  brethren  at  St.  Paul's  have  kindly 
intimated  their  wish  that  I  should  serve  them  next  year,  in  case  the 
bishop  appoint  me.  But  I  do  not  feel  myself  strong  enough  to  as- 
sume the  full  charge  of  such  a  society.  They  need  a  man  in  full 
physical,  as  well  as  mental,  vigor.    I  have  not  either. 

By  the  time  of  our  return  I  shall  have  spent  about  four  years  here. 
They  have  gone  rapidly  and  happily.  The  Church  has  prospered, 
and  is  now  prospering,  beyond  all  my  expectations.  Had  it  not  been 
for  the  sectarianism  of  a  few  extreme  Episcopalians,  who  are  trying, 
under  Mr.  Lamson's  impulse  and  guidance,  to  get  up  a  separate 
American  congregation,  we  should  have  all  the  Americans  in  Paris 


344 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


worshipping  together.  As  it  is  they  get  ver^-  few.  The  largest  part 
of  our  pew-holders  are  yet,  I  think,  EpiscopaHans  ;  and  none  con- 
demn this  sectarian  effort  more  than  our  best  Episcopalian  members. 
There  is  no  more  need  of  a  second  American  Church  here  than  of  a 
separate  "confederacy"  on  American  soil.  I  trust  that  neither  en- 
terprise will  succeed. 

My  relations  to  the  people  have  been  always  most  pleasant.  I 
have  never  had  one  single  word  of  difficulty  with  the  committee,  or 
with  any  member  of  the  Church  or  congregation.  Greater  kindness, 
or  greater  confidence,  I  never  found  in  any  church.  I  shall  leave 
with  regrets  and  grief  on  many  accounts.  But  duty  to  my  family 
requires  me  now  to  return  home.  I  trust  that  when  the  eternal  reck- 
oning shall  be  made,  it  will  be  found  that  the  Divine  blessing  has  not 
been  wanting  to  my  humble  labors  here. 

To  complete  the  picture  of  Dr.  M'Clintock's  life  in 
Paris,  the  Rev.  Andrew  Longacre,  his  assistant  in  the 
charge  of  the  American  Chapel,  has  written  the  following 
description  of  its  personal  features  : — 

"  The  pastorate  of  the  American  Chapel  was  at  that 
time  unlike  any  thing  elsewhere.  It  had  been,  and  still 
was,  the  only  American  Church  in  Paris.  Christian  peo- 
ple of  all  denominations  made  it  their  home — of  all 
classes  in  society  also,  and  of  all  shades  of  politics,  and 
that  when  the  country  was  breaking  out  into  civil  war. 
In  the  crowded  congregations  of  a  Sunday  morning  were 
expatriated  families  from  Mississippi  and  Georgia;  per- 
manent residents  of  Paris  bom  in  Boston  or  New  York ; 
the  families  of  business  men  representing  the  great  houses 
of  the  large  cities ;  people  of  wealth  and  leisure  who 
made  Paris  their  home  for  one  or  more  years,  and  always 
the  ever  varying  stream  of  passing  travellers.  There,  with 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  345 

a  form  of  worship  which  had  been  settled  in  a  spirit  of 
generous  concession,  all  happily  united  —  Episcopalians, 
Presbyterians,  Baptists,  Methodists,  each  finding  some 
trait  of  his  own  preferred  forms.  I  am  not  aware  that 
so  broad  and  comprehensive  a  union  was  ever  attempted 
elsewhere. 

In  that  world-centre,  in  face  of  the  dominant  Roman- 
ism of  France,  this  testimony  of  a  united  Protestantism 
was  peculiarly  valuable.  It  would  have  been  asking  too 
much  to  expect  that  the  members  of  each  Church,  fresh 
from  their  own  modes  of  worship  at  home,  would  be  per- 
fectly satisfied  with  the  modified  and  adapted  ser\^ices 
there  in  use.  To  carry  it  on  so  as  to  secure  the  sincere 
support  of  all,  called  for  a  rare  combination  of  piety  and 
tact  and  good  humor.  This  Dr.  M'Clintock  happily  pos- 
sessed, and  with  this  his  universal  culture,  his  remarkable 
personal  and  social  attractiveness,  and  his  charm  as  a 
preacher,  which  none  failed  to  own,  united  to  bind  his 
flock  to  him,  and  together,  in  cordial  interest  and  co- 
operation. 

His  preaching  was,  perhaps,  never  more  highly  appre- 
ciated than  by  his  Paris  congregations.  Tliey  kept  the 
elegant  chapel  in  the  Rue  de  Berri  filled,  and  listened 
with  a  marked  interest  to  his  sermons — clear,  scholarly, 
earnest  as  they  were,  and  brightened  with  the  flashes  of 
a  fine  fancy  and  noble  bursts  of  inspired  oratory.  There 
were  hearers  among  them  to  whom  his  words  became  an 
undying  impulse  for  good. 

"  The  actual  outbreak  of  war  in  America  carried  ofl^  from 
the  chapel  many  of  the  southerners.    Until  then  they 


34^  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

had  been  among  his  warmest  friends,  and  even  afterward 
some  of  them  Hngered  in  the  congregation  in  spite  of 
his  well-known  loyalty  to  the  Government.  One  accom- 
plished girl  from  South  Carolina,  whose  father  was  minis- 
ter to  Spain,  he  had  the  happiness  of  receiving  into  the 
Church  by  baptism.  Many  he  visited  as  pastor,  comfort- 
ing the  sick  and  burying  their  dead.  Later,  when  the 
cutting  off  of  communications  with  home  had  brought 
many  of  them  to  want,  they  turned  to  him  with  a  confi- 
dence that  was  nobly  justified  by  his  untiring  efforts  to 
relieve  them.  To  the  honor  of  our  countrymen,  it  may 
be  said  that  he  found  the  hearts  and  the  purses  of  the 
most  loyal  Americans  open  to  all  such  appeals. 

"  Soon  after  he  had  taken  up  his  residence  in  Paris,  he 
adopted  the  custom  of  giving  one  evening  in  the  week 
to  the  reception  of  all  who  chose  to  call  upon  him. 
These  little,  free,  cheery  reunions  he  greatly  enjoyed  ; 
as  did  all  who  shared  in  them.  His  house  was 
common  ground,  where  all  who  came  laid  aside  the 
real  or  fancied  distinctions  insisted  upon  elsewhere. 
The  passing  traveller  here  met  the  American  Parisian, 
who  seldom  visited  his  native  land ;  active  men  of 
business,  ministers  on  their  vacation,  students  of  art, 
of  medicine,  or  of  theology,  men  of  leisure,  mingled  to- 
gether, while  now  and  then  a  chance  visitor  from  En- 
gland succeeded  in  provoking  and  amusing  all  the  rest  by 
his  unaccountable  inability  to  understand  American  af- 
fairs. Paris  itself  Dr.  M'Clintock  appeared  thoroughly 
to  enjoy.  The  climate,  the  mode  of  life,  the  superb  city, 
then  robing  itself  in  the  unparalleled  splendor  of  the 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


347 


second  empire,  the  immense  energy  of  its  internal  im- 
provements, the  treasures  of  art,  the  grand  hbraries,  and 
the  living  intercourse  with  men  of  letters  from  all  parts 
of  the  world — all  were  delightful  to  him. 

He  gave  much  of  his  time  to  his  work  on  the  Cy- 
clopaedia," employing  on  it  a  regular  assistant.  His  cor- 
respondence with  America  was  as  much  an  enjoyment  to 
him  as  a  labor.  It  acted  as  a  perpetual  stimulus,  re- 
quiring a  quick  and  broad  observation  of  all  that  was 
going  on  around  him. 

"  With  the  growing  power  of  the  rebellion  he  became 
intensely  absorbed  in  the  great  interests  at  stake,  and  he 
worked  with  all  the  means  at  his  command  to  give  just 
views  of  the  strife  to  the  people  of  France  and  England. 
For  this  purpose  he  made  several  visits  to  London,  press- 
ing the  true  issues  upon  his  most  influential  friends  there. 
His  speech,  much  more  political  than  any  thing  else,  which 
he  made  at  the  annual  Wesleyan  missionary  meeting  in 
Exeter  Hall,  in  1861,  made  a  profound  impression.  He 
had  the  Count  de  Gasparin's  book,  ''Le  Grand  Peuple  qui 
se  Releve,"  translated  and  published  in  England.  He  was 
in  the  thick  of  all  gatherings  of  Americans  in  Paris  for 
the  encouragement  and  aid  of  the  Government  at  home. 

"  Now  that  the  excitemient  of  those  events  has  so  long 
been  a  thing  of  the  past,  it  seems  strange  to  recall  it.  But 
we  felt  it  keenly  then.  Almost  every  foreigner  we  met 
treated  us  Americans  precisely  as  if  we  had  failed  in  busi- 
ness. There  was  pity  for  us,  sometimes  polite,  but  always 
mingled  with  an  evident  inward  feeling  of  satisfaction. 
There  were  few  even  of  our  friends  who  did  not  share  the 


348  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

sentiment  which  the  eloquent  Mr.  Punshon  expressed  at 
the  memorable  missionary  service  I  have  referred  to,  when 
he  said  that  he  wished  the  American  flag  no  more  harm 
than  to  be  divided,  so  that  the  stars  might  be  all  on  one 
side  and  the  stripes  on  the  other.  They  could  not  see 
that  a  rent  flag,  like  a  rent  nation,  was  not  two  but  none. 

Dr.  M'Clintock  never  doubted  for  a  moment  the  ul- 
timate triumph  of  the  Government.  His  hope  was  the 
most  confident  of  any  man's  I  knew  at  the  time,  and  he 
used  to  say,  laughingly,  what  a  '  crowing  time  *  he  meant 
to  have  in  visiting  England  after  the  war.  How  far  his 
visit  in  1869  met  this  wish  I  cannot  say.  He  may 
have  found  little  occasion  to  speak  of  the  past,  for  our 
good  friends  there  are  now  as  happily  oblivious  of  their 
former  wishes  for  the  success  of  the  rebellion  as  if  they 
had  never  had  a  doubt  of  its  final  suppression. 

The  remembrances  of  Dr.  M'Clintock,  which  I  value 
more  than  these,  lie  within  a  narrower  range.  I  was  per- 
mitted to  be  as  near  to  him  as  I  ever  got  to  any  man, 
and  I  never  knew  one  who  bore  the  close  scrutiny  better, 
or  whose  wealth  of  mind  and  character  made  the  inti- 
mate acquaintance  a  greater  satisfaction.  His  wide  and 
varied  culture,  his  universal  knowledge,  were  fixed  quan- 
tities in  all  intercourse  with  him.  But  there  was  never  a 
shadow  of  assumption  or  of  condescension.  He  was  a 
master  in  acquiring,  as  well  as  in  giving,  information,  and 
both  were  done  instinctively,  and  were  woven  into  his 
every  day  talk  in  the  most  natural  way  in  the  world.  He 
gathered  something  from  every  one,  and  his  tact  made 
the  dullest  show  at  his  best.    His  common  talk  was  thus 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  349 

a  most  delightful  going  to  school,  a  school  where  the 
lessons  were  not  tasks  but  plays  and  pastimes.  He 
treated  with  respect  even  the  smallest  fragments  of  truth 
or  of  fact,  but  he  had  small  patience  with  guesses.  He 
would  worry  a  chance  statement  with  a  good-humored 
pitilessness  till  he  had  got  at  its  modicum  of  truth,  and 
that  he  accepted.  One  great  charm  of  his  home-life  was 
his  bringing  ev^ery  thing  that  interested  him  into  the  fami- 
ly conversations,  to  be  talked  over  and  argued  and  tossed, 
sometimes  in  fun  and  sometimes  in  earnest,  from  side  to 
side.  Reading  the  French  newspapers,  he  would  extem- 
porize translations  of  articles  that  struck  him,  more  ad- 
mirable, we  thought,  than  his  more  studied  efforts. 

His  temperament  was  wonderfully  buoyant  and  hope- 
ful. Notwithstanding  previous  illness  and  long  periods 
of  a  half  invalid  condition,  no  one  had  ever  less  the 
spirit  of  a  sick  man.  In  all  affairs,  public  and  private, 
he  never  failed  to  see  the  bright  side.  Pecuniary  losses 
were  borne  without  a  word  of  repining.  Little  annoy- 
ances were  dismissed  with  an  imperturbable  good  humor. 
He  had  a  great  faculty  of  enjoyment.  The  good  things 
of  all  sorts  that  came  he  got  the  full  worth  of,  and  he 
seemed  to  enjoy  scarcely  less  much  that  never  came  at 
all.  Things  beyond  his  reach  were  thus  made  to  minis- 
ter to  his  gratification.  For  instance :  his  invalid  habit 
compelled  him  to  continual  abstemiousness  in  diet,  yet 
he  would  talk  over  the  pleasures  of  the  table  with  the 
gusto  of  an  epicure.  He  made  sunshine  for  us  all,  and 
he  made  it  out  of  every  thing. 

In  all  his  life  at  home  there  was  an  ever  present  and 


350 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


unfailing  considerateness  for  the  wishes  and  needs  of  oth- 
ers. The  busy  pen  could  be  laid  down  for  hours  that  he 
might  read  by  the  bedside  of  the  sick.  Lame  himself 
for  many  months,  no  arms  but  his  own  would  be  per- 
mitted to  carry  the  invalid  from  room  to  room.  The 
time  for  a  walk  was  not  when  he  chose  it,  but  when  it 
suited  some  one  who  would  not  hav^e  enjoyed  it  without 
his  companionship. 

His  charity  in  judging  others  was  the  most  unlimited 
I  have  ever  known.  No  unkindness  to  himself  seemed 
to  find  lodgment  in  his  remembrance.  He  saw  good  in 
every  body,  and  of  that  and  that  only  would  he  speak. 
Indeed,  in  taking  his  opinion  of  men  it  was  always  nec- 
essary to  allow  ample  margin  for  this  persistent  blindness 
to  their  faults.  He  left  it  for  others  to  be  simply  just;  he 
was  all  mercy. 

In  the  inmost  sanctuary  of  all,  depths  not  often 
opened  to  the  gaze  of  any  one,  he  kept  a  firm  and  child- 
like faith  in  God.  He  had,  when  I  knew  him,  long  passed 
the  era  of  conflict  with  doubts.  Scepticism  in  all  its 
forms  had  been  met  and  overcome,  and  he  had  come  now 
to  be  as  a  little  child,"  the  true  heir  of  God's  kingdom. 
His  unquestioning  trust  in  the  goodness  and  care  of  God 
was  the  underlying  rock  of  his  hopeful  and  happy  spirit. 
His  charity,  too,  was  grounded  in  his  religious  convic-' 
tions.  When  we  would  sometimes  question  its  reasona- 
bleness, he  justified  it  by  the  mercy  of  God  and  the 
Christian  law  of  love.  Without  a  taint  of  sectarian  big- 
otry, he  was,  nevertheless,  in  doctrine  and  in  his  views 
of  practical  piety,  a  very  sincere  Methodist.    There  was- 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  351 

nothing  in  our  received  theology  which  he  did  not  accept 
heartily.  In  his  family  he  upheld  the  old  time  simplicity 
of  godly  living,  of  avoidance  of  extravagance,  and  of 
doubtful  amusements.  The  gayeties  of  Paris  were  un-^ 
known  to  them  save  by  report. 

"  It  would  be  understood  almost  without  the  saying,; 
that  toward  myself  personally  Dr.  M'Clintock  showed 
the  kindness  of  an  elder  brother.  My  interests  seemed 
to  be  as  dear  to  him  as  his  own.  From  all  appearance 
of  dictation  or  control  he  shrank  as  if  by  instinct.  If  he 
advised  it  was  as  if  he  were  the  younger  and  I  the  elder.. 
He  cheerfully  opened  my  way  for  such  opportunities  of 
travel  as  came  to  me,  doing  double  duty  himself,  and^ 
urging  me  to  take  full  time." 

LETTERS. 
I. 

Paris,  Fehruanj  12,  1S62. 
Better  late  than  never.  It  is  never  too  late  to  mend.  Accidents 
will  happen  in  the  best  regulated  families.  You  see  I  give  you  occi- 
dental proverbs  for  your  oriental  aphorisms.  You  see,  too,  that  they 
form  the  prelude  to  an  explanation  of  my  long  delay  in  answering 
your  letter. 

The  facts  are  on  this  wise.  I  received  your  last  letter  just  as  I  was 
setting  out  from  home,  to  be  gone  a  month.  I  gave  it  to  a  French 
friend,  ai/  coin'ant  with  such  things,  to  make  the  necessary  inquiries 
and  report  to  me.  On  my  return  at  the  end  of  the  month  I  moved 
my  household  to  a  new  abode,  and  thus  kept  my  study  topsy-turvy  for 
a  fortnight  more.  When  things  got  to  rights  I  looked  for  your  letter 
but  could  not  find  it,  forgetting,  entirely,  that  I  had  given  it  to  the 
friend  aforesaid.  He,  also,  was  taken  ill  in  the  mean  time,  and  was 
confined  several  months.    1  renewed  my  search  repeatedly  through 


352 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


every  drawer,  portfolio,  and  desk  in  the  house,  but,  of  course,  in  vain. 
At  last  I  determined  to  ask  all  possible  questions  about  Chinese  type, 
even  though  I  had  forgotten  the  points  of  your  inquiry,  as  I  had  only 
glanced  at  them  in  the  haste  of  departure.  One  day  my  sick  friend 
reappeared,  and  I  questioned  him  as  to  his  knowledge  of  Chinese 
type.  "  Why,"  said  he,  "  you  gave  me  a  letter  on  that  point  in  the  au- 
tumn— I  made  the  inquiries — but  your  absence  and  my  illness  drove 
it  out  of  my  head."  Here  was  an  eclair cissement.  He  brought  me 
the  letter  on  his  next  visit,  and  I  now  answer  it !  I  have  made  this 
long  and  valid  explanation  simply  to  clear  myself  of  negligence.  I 
assure  you  that  my  mind  was  uneasy  about  it  all  the  time. 

Well,  after  all,  I  can  give  you  no  useful  information  about  Chinese 
type.  All  of  that  sort  of  thing  in  Paris  belongs  to  the  iinprimerie 
Impcriale.  When  any  body  wants  Chinese  printing  done  they  do  it, 
but  they  will  not  sell  types,  matrices,  or  anything  else.  One  set  they 
have  already  sent  to  China  for  the  use  of  the  Jesuits,  and  that  is  all 
they  will  send.  So  you  see  that,  for  all  the  good  of  the  thing,  I 
might  just  as  well  have  written  you  a  friendly  letter  long  ago  in  reply 
to  yours,  and  left  type,  matrices,  etc.,  entirely  out  of  the  question. 
And  perhaps,  after  all,  when  this  reaches  China  you  will  be  on  your 
way  to  America. 

Thk  Rkv.  Db.  Wkntwobth. 

II. 

Paeis,  April  19, 1862. 

Your  letter  of  yth  was  very  welcome  indeed.  You  do  not  mention 
mine  of  October  last.  I  directed  to  Black  Rock,  not  knowing  any 
other  address.  In  it  I  suggested  a  Paris  winter  for  you,  but  it  is  too 
late  for  that  now.  Our  spring  and  summer  suns  would  probably  be 
quite  as  serviceable  to  you,  and  as  pleasant  to  Mrs.  Scott.  I  wish 
we  had  space  in  our  apartments  to  make  you  comfortable,  but  every 
nook  in  the  flat  is  occupied.  I  can't  afford  a  self-contained  house  in 
these  war  times.  But  if  you  should  entertain  the  idea  of  trying  the 
desired  change  of  climate,  which  you  can  secure  by  merely  crossing 
the  Channel,  and  will  give  me  notice,  I  will  secure  suitable  lodgings 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


353 


for  you,  and  we  will  all  exert  ourselves  to  make  Paris  as  agreeable  as 
possible  to  you. 

My  ailment  in  the  knee  still  continues.  I  can  walk  but  little,  and 
have  to  preach  sitting,  like  a  cardinal.  Moreover,  a  similar  rheu- 
matic disorder  has  seized  my  ankle.  My  general  health,  of  course, 
suffers  from  the  forced  confinement.  So  one  pin  of  our  tent  is  loos- 
ened after  another.  How  wisely  and  kindly  our  heavenly  Father  pre- 
pares our  changes  for  us.    All  is  right  which  he  ordains. 

My  son  returned  to  America  several  weeks  ago,  and  has,  prob- 
ably, by  this  time  entered  the  army,  for  which,  however,  he  has  not 
sufficient  health.  My  daughters  are  pursuing  their  studies  with  great 
success  here.    The  little  one  is  a  great  comfort  and  joy  to  us  all. 

The  public  troubles  of  the  last  two  years  have,  of  course,  distressed 
me.  I  have  lost,  I  think,  not  less  than  twenty  pounds'  weight  in  that 
time.  But  my  faith  and  hope  have  never  failed.  God  can  never  al- 
low the  cause  of  rebellion  and  slavery  to  succeed.  We  are  all  very 
sorry  indeed  that  our  cause  has  been  so  little  understood  and  appre- 
ciated in  Britain,  and  that  English  statesmen,  of  all  parties,  seem  to 
agree  in  desiring  our  country  to  be  divided.  At  the  same  time  we 
are  the  more  thankful  to  William  Arthur,  and  other  noble  souls  like 
him,  who  have  struggled  against  the  tide,  and  have,  indeed,  under 
God,  saved  us  from  the  fearful  issues  of  a  war  between  England  and 
America.  Heaven  grant  that  these  two  great  Protestant  powers  may 
never  cross  swords  with  each  other  in  anger. 

April  21. — I  have  been  hindered  from  finishing  th's.  We  just 
have  the  telegram  of  the  fearful  battle  at  Corinth.  I  hope  the  details 
will  prove  less  bloody  than  the  first  reports.  The  next  steamers  will 
doubtless  bring  us  news  of  M'Clellan's  first  movement  on  Richmond, 
where  the  resistance  is  expected  to  be  greater  than  anywhere  else. 
But  the  backbone  of  the  rebellion  is  completely  broken,  though  it  will 
be  a  twelvemonth  more,  I  fear,  before  all  is  over. 

I  pray  God  that  your  health  may  be  restored,  and  that  you  may  be 
filled  with  all  spiritual  grace  and  comfort.  May  God  have  you  in  his 
holy  keeping  !    Pray  let  me  hear  from  you  again  soon. 

Tip  Kkv.  Bishop  Scott. 

23 


354 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


IIL 

Paris,  April  30,  1S62. 

The  last  reports  from  America  are  all  of  a  gloomy  tone.  We 
await  the  news  from  Yorktown,  the  Merrimac,  and  Corinth,  with  pro- 
found uneasiness.  The  strain  upon  the  nerves,  in  this  expectant  state 
of  mind,  is  greatly  intensified  by  the  length  of  the  intervals  between 
one  steamer  and  another.  At  home  you  get  some  kind  of  news  ever}' 
day ;  here  we  are  often  six  days  without  a  syllable.  Of  course  the 
whole  pack  of  detractors  of  our  institutions  in  England  and  France 
are  in  full  cry  again  upon  us.  If  we  meet  a  mishap  at  Yorktown 
there  will  be  a  tremendous  effort  made  to  get  a  recognition  of  the 
Slave  Confederacy  from  France  and  England,  and  I  think  it  will  be 
successful.  Gladstone's  speech,  considering  the  man  from  whom  it 
comes,  is  the  worst  blow  in  the  face  we  have  yet  had.  The  abolition 
of  slavery  in  the  District,  however,  arrives  just  in  time  to  increase 
mightily  our  moral  hold  upon  the  English  and  French  masses.  If 
our  Government  would  employ  the  same  means  of  inflaming  the  press 
that  the  rebels  do,  we  could  soon  create  a  public  sentiment  that  would 
render  any  interference  impossible,  either  on  the  part  of  France  or 
England. 
To  C.  Tiffany,  Esq. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


355 


CHAPTER  XI. 

1864-1870. 

The  Afternoon  of  Life— Signs  of  Eodily  Decay— Formation  of  the  European  Branch  of 
the  Sanitary  Commission — Invitation  to  Return  to  St.  Paul's  Church,  New  York — Trip  to 
Rome— Taking  Leave  of  Paris— Reception  by  Friends  in  New  York— Offered  a  Public  Din- 
ner by  Leading  Citizens — Failure  of  Health  -Retirement  to  the  "  Brown  "  Farm,  near  Phila- 
delphia—Chairman of  Central  Centenary  Committee— Great  Success  of  Centenary  "Work- 
Mr,  Drew's  Offer  to  Found  a  Theological  School— Opening  of  Drew  Seminary  under  the 
Presidency  of  Dr.  M'Clintock — Removal  of  Dr.  M'Clintock,  first  to  New  Brunswick,  and 
then  to  Madison,  New  Jersey — Interview  with  President  Johnson  at  Washington — No  Rest 
for  Us  in  this  World— General  Conference  of  1S68  and  Lay  Delegation— Work  on  the  Cyclo- 
l).'Bdia— Trip  to  England  in  the  Summer  of  1S69— Continued  Decline  of  Health— Letter  to 
Fletcher  Harper— Attack  of  Fever,  March,  1S?0— Last  Words,  and  the  End. 

IT  was  now  with  Dr.  M'Clintock  the  afternoon  of  Hfe. 
There  are  afternoons  so  long  that  they  overpass  the 
fixed  boundaries  of  the  day.  The  sun  lingers  in  the  sky, 
and  suffuses  the  earth  with  a  mellow  radiance,  which 
adds,  with  a  new  aspect,  another  glory  to  the  visible 
world.  It  makes  in  its  lingering  almost  a  second  day, 
which,  if  less  brilliant  than  the  first,  is  a  more  perfect  im- 
age of  calm  and  peace.  Dr.  M'Clintock  knew  that  the 
evening  time  had  come  to  him.  Though  by  no  means 
old  as  years  are  reckoned,  he  discerned  plainly  enough 
that  his  life  was  coming  to  its  close.  He  understood 
what  the  signs  of  bodily  decay  meant.  To  one  of  his 
correspondents  he  confesses,  though  without  complain- 
ing, that  his  constitution  appears  to  be  breaking  up.  In 
their  tone  his  letters  are  less  hopeful,  than  they  were  in 
former  years,  of  a  future  of  energetic  working  power. 


356 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


He  is  looking  much  to  the  end,  and  speaking  of  it,  too, 
but  always  in  terms  that  befit  a  Christian  faith.  His 
trust  in  a  divine  Providence  becomes  more  conspicuous 
in  his  correspondence  with  intimate  friends.  He  still 
believed  that  rest  and  care  would  give  to  his  life  a  long 
afternoon.  But  it  was  otherwise  ordered  ;  and  though 
he  lived  his  last  years,  upon  the  record  of  which  we  now 
enter,  usefully  and  successfully,  yet  it  was  with  a  growing 
sense  of  weariness,  until  at  length — his  tasks  all  about 
him — he  ceased  at  once  to  work  and  breathe. 

Despite,  however,  the  disadvantage  of  failing  strength, 
these  years  were  the  most  effective  of  his  entire  career. 
His  life  in  Paris  had  made  him  widely  known  to  his 
countrymen,  and  had  increased  public  confidence  in  him. 
He  had  illustrated  his  energy  in  an  entirely  new  sphere 
of  activity,  to  the  surprise  and  gratification  of  patriotic 
Americans.  Before  resigning  the  pastorate  of  the  chapel 
he  took  part  in  forming  a  European  branch  of  the  San- 
itary Commission,  becoming  its  chairman.  The  an- 
nouncement of  the  creation  of  this  branch  was  received 
with  great  satisfaction  by  Dr.  Bellows,  the  president  of 
the  Commission  at  home.  He  wrote  to  Dr.  M'Clintock : 
''Your  movement  is  the  first  organized  attempt  to  col- 
lect and  centralize  the  efforts  of  our  countrymen  abroad 
in  the  support  of  our  work,  and  it  therefore  merits  and 
calls  forth  our  special  and  grateful  acknowledgments." 
Dr.  Bellows  also  suggested  that  the  European  branch 
should  be  represented  at  the  Sanitary  Fair  in  New  York, 
for  which  preparations  were  making  on  the  most  exten- 
sive scale,  in  the  spring  of  1864. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


357 


In  relation  to  this  subject  Dr.  M'Clintock  wrote  him  the 
following  letter: — 

We  regret  exceedingly  that  the  call  for  "works  of  art"  for  ex- 
hibition at  the  Metropolitan  Fair  was  not  made  sooner.  Had  there 
been  three  months'  notice,  or  even  two,  Paris  would  have  been  very- 
well  represented,  both  by  American  and  French  artists.  But  just 
now,  all  the  artists  are  preparing  for  the  French  Exhibition,  which 
opens  in  a  few  weeks.  All  that  we  can  hope  to  do  is  to  get  minor 
works,  not  engaged  for  that  exhibition.  Nevertheless,  a  good  deal 
will  be  done. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1863  Dr.  M'Clintock's  devoted 
friends,  the  members  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  New  York, 
invited  him  to  occupy  again  the  pulpit  which  he  had 
filled  from  1857  to  i860  with  such  pleasure  and  profit  to 
them  all.  In  view  of  his  broken  health  he  hesitated  to 
accept  this  call,  but  finally  consented  upon  the  assurance 
that  an  assistant  would  be  provided  to  relieve  him  of  the 
more  fatiguing  part  of  his  duty.  He  began  without  de- 
lay to  make  preparations  for  his  return  home.  Before 
leaving,  however,  he  made  a  short  trip  to  Italy. 

To  Mr.  Joseph  Gray  don. 

Paris.  October  10,  1863. 

Allow  me  first  to  say,  that  no  service  in  the  Church  at  home  could 
be  more  agreeable  to  me  than  that  of  St.  Paul's ;  nor  do  I  know  of 
any  other  in  which,  with  my  present  knowledge,  I  think  I  could  be 
more  useful.  On  the  point,  then,  of  my  willingness  to  serve  you,  if 
able,  you  may  be  perfectly  assured. 

But  it  is  due  both  to  the  Church  and  to  myself  that  I  should  say 
frankly,  that  I  do  not  consider  myself  strong  enough  to  take  the  work 
at  St.  Paul's,  nor  do  I  see  any  likelihood  that  I  ever  shall  be.  You 
ought  to  have  a  man  in  full  physical  force,  capable  not  only  of  the 
Sunday  work,  but  also  of  the  week-night  meetings,  and  of  steady 


358 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


and  protracted  work  when  necessary.  Were  I  to  undertake  this,  I 
should,  in  all  human  probability,  break  down  in  it,  and  that  result 
would  be  as  bad  for  the  Church  as  it  would  be  for  myself. 

As  to  the  other  plan,  of  having  two  ministers,  it  works  well  enough 
in  other  denominations,  but  in  our  peculiar  system  there  are  diffi- 
culties in  it,  which  you  understand  as  well  as  L 

Taking  every  thing  into  the  account,  therefore,  I  think  it  best  to 
say  at  once,  without  waiting  for  the  result  of  your  joint  meeting,  that 
I  am  not  able  to  undertake  the  charge  of  St.  Paul's. 

You  are  quite  at  liberty  to  read  this  letter  to  the  brethren,  if  you 
see  fit  to  do  so.  And,  at  the  same  time,  I  beg  you  to  assure  them  of 
my  undiminished  regard  and  affection.  I  shall  never  forget  their 
kindness  to  me ;  and,  if  the  way  were  open,  I  should  rejoice  to  give 
them  my  services,  such  as  they  are. 

When  we  do  return  home,  I  think  it  must  be  to  the  quiet  of  a  re- 
tired place,  where  I  may  be  able  to  do  some  service  to  the  Church 
by  my  pen,  and  by  such  occasional  preaching  as  my  strength  will 
enable  me  to  do.  At  present  I  am,  thank  God,  able  to  preach  twice, 
and  do  all  the  work  of  the  American  Chapel  here.  But  the  building 
is  comparatively  small,  and  the  work  in  every  respect  much  lighter 
than  at  St.  Paul's. 

To  Miss  Maria  Emory. 

Rome,  Jamuiry  28, 1863. 

We  expect  to  leave  here  on  Saturday,  January  30,  to  reach  Mar- 
seilles on  Monday  or  Tuesday,  and  to  get  home  on  Thursday  or  Fri- 
day.   I  will  write  again  from  Marseilles. 

The  last  five  days  have  been  lovely — warm,  dry,  bright,  every  thing 
that  could  be  wished.  We  have  made  good  use  of  them,  invalids  as 
we  are.  At  a  party  at  Dr.  Gould's  on  Monday  night  I  made  a  little 
speech  for  the  Sanitary  Commission,  and  they  are  going  to  send  a 
table  of  Roman  articles  for  the  fair  at  New  York.  There  is  to  be 
another  large  party  to-night  to  further  the  Commission,  at  which  I 
am  to  speak. 

If  I  could  be  away  from  home  another  Sunday  we  could  see  Na- 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


359 


pies  and  Florence  ;  but  as  I  have  not  heard  from  Dr.  Vannest,  I,  of 
course,  must  return  at  the  time  specified.  The  steamers  leave  also 
on  very  unfortunate  days  for  us,  namely,  Sundays  and  Wednesdays, 
and  Wednesday  is  too  late  to  reach  Paris  by  Saturday.  But  we  are 
thankful  to  have  seen  and  enjoyed  as  much  as  we  have.  We  had  in- 
vitations to  a  large  party  at  Rogers,  the  artist's,  last  night,  but  could 
not  go. 

To  the  Rev.  Bishop  Aines. 

Paris,  February  8, 186-1. 

My  only  fear  has  been  that  my  health  would  not  justify  me  in  un- 
dertaking the  charge  of  a  Church  like  St.  Paul's.  But  the  brethren 
have  so  kindly  agreed  to  relieve  me  of  all  undue  labor,  that  I  have  no 
plea,  in  conscience,  for  declining  to  go  to  the  work  if  appointed  to  it. 

My  engagements  here  hold  me  until  the  1 5th  of  April,  or  there- 
abouts, so  that  1  shall  not  be  able  to  reach  New  York  until  the  latter 
end  of  that  month,  or  the  first  of  May.  I  shall  thus  be  deprived  of 
the  pleasure  of  attending  the  Annual  Conference,  which  meets  two 
or  three  weeks  earlier. 

The  Danish-German  war  has  begun.  For  months  I  have  looked 
to  that  point  as  the  spot  where  the  general  European  war,  which  is 
inevitable,  must  break  out.  Its  spread  may  be  arrested  for  a  time, 
but  it  must  come. 

To  Mr.  John  IV.  Gray  don. 

Paris,  February  13,  1864. 

We  reached  home  last  week,  and  both  Mrs.  M'Clintock  and  I  much 
the  better  for  the  trip.  My  rheumatism  did  not  allow  me  to  put  on 
my  ordinary  boots,  and  I  saw  the  chambers  and  galleries  of  Rome 
in  a  pair  of  white  Russian  boots  with  black  tops,  and  lined  with 
sheepskin,  which  were  the  wonder  of  all  beholders.  In  one  of  the  great 
ceremonies  at  St.  Peter's,  where  the  Pope  was  borne  on  men's  shoul- 
ders, with  all  the  cardinals  in  procession,  the  attention  of  the  throng 
of  spectators  was  divided  between  the  spectacle  and  my  boots. 
Since  reaching  home  I  have  come  down  to  the  leggings  worn  by  or- 
dinary men.    It  is,  of  course,  a  humiliation,  but  I  bear  it  well. 


360 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


The  pain  still  remains  in  my  left  arm,  and  a  little  in  my  chest,  and 
is  quite  trying.    With  this  exception  we  are  all  well. 

The  weather  was  v^.r^-  cold  in  Rome  during  part  of  our  stay  there, 
and  the  winter  has  been,  up  to  yesterday,  very  severe  here.  Indeed, 
this  seems  to  have  been  the  character  of  the  winter  all  over  Europe, 
and  still  more  in  America. 

The  people  at  home  seem  to  have  an  idea  that  the  war  is  nearly 
ended.  I  do  not  share  this  notion.  I  fear  that  Longstreet  will  get 
Knoxville,  and  if  he  does  the  war  will  be  prolonged  for  a  twelve- 
month ;  unless  Grant  means  to  let  him  take  it,  and  then  fall  on  his 
flank  or  rear  and  cut  him  off.  But  I  do  not  really  think  the  war  can 
end  until  1865. 

The  British  Government  has  plainly  been  brought  to  reason. 
They  will  have  to  pay  for  all  the  damages  by  the  Alabama.  The 
"  Times  "  of  day  before  yesterday  has  an  article  preparing  the  public 
mind  for  the  step.  England  dares  not  enter  into  any  European  war 
while  this  question  is  unsettled. 

Dr.  M'Clintock  left  the  American  Chapel  with  many 
regrets.  His  associations  with  his  congregation  had  been 
very  happy.  No  word  of  complaint  of  my  poor  ser- 
vices," he  writes  in  his  Diary,  has  reached  me  during 
my  stay,  and  friends  have  been  wonderfully  kind."  A 
valuable  testimonial,  bestowed  with  a  touching  delicacy, 
expressed  to  him  the  affection  of  the  people  whom  he 
had  served.  The  Americans  in  Paris,  and  elsewhere  on 
the  Continent,  felt  his  departure  very  much.  "  I  hope," 
wrote  the  American  Minister  to  Italy,  the  Hon.  George 
P.  Marsh,  ''that  you  are  not  going  to  leave  your  place 
long  vacant.  I  know  from  many  sources  that  you  have 
been  most  useful  there,  and  I  do  not  know  where  a  man 
like  you  can  do  better  service  to  all  good  causes  in  which 
you  are  interested."     In  making  the  preparations  for 


IHE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  361 

returning  his  health  quite  broke  down  again.  His  son, 
who  was  then  United  States'  Consul  at  Bradford,  England, 
was  sent  for  to  help  him.  "April  8,"  (1864,)  he  writes  in 
his  Diary,  "  left  Paris  with  family,  so  feeble  that  Emory 
had  to  lift  me  almost  into  cabs  and  out.  Got  on  board 
steamer  at  Dieppe  at  eight  P.  M.,  and  fell  asleep  by  nine 
on  a  sofa  ;  slept  till  six  A.  when  we  were  in  New- 
haven  ;  first  sleep  without  anodynes  for  a  fortnight. 
Stayed  in  London  till  Monday.  April  20,  sailed  from 
Liverpool  in  the  'Scotia;'  health  much  restored  by  the 
trip.  Parsonage  all  ready  for  our  occupancy  on  our  ar- 
rival, May  2." 

It  was  a  joy  indeed  to  be  in  his  old  home  once  more. 
He  had  helped  to  plan  the  St.  Paul's  parsonage,  had 
watched  it  as  it  grew  towards  completion,  and  had  spent 
in  it  delightful  months.  Upon  his  arrival  in  the  city  he 
was  not  only  greeted  most  affectionately  by  his  congrega- 
tion, but  received  marked  attention  from  many  eminent 
men.  His  fellow-citizens  of  New  York  offered  him  a 
public  dinner  as  a  token  of  their  appreciation  of  his  ser- 
vices to  the  country.  "  We  have  observed,"  they  say  in 
their  letter  of  invitation,  with  pride  and  pleasure  your 
zealous  and  effective  labors  in  enlightening  public  senti- 
ment abroad  in  regard  to  the  principles  involved  in  the 
great  contest,  now,  as  we  hope,  happily  drawing  to  its 
close,  and  we  cannot  doubt  that  the  result  of  those  la- 
bors will  be  manifest,  for  many  years  to  come,  in  a  much 
better  understanding  of  our  government  and  people  on 
the  part  of  the  nations  of  the  old  world."  This  invita- 
tion was  acknowledged  most  gratefully,  but  declined. 


362 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


Dr.  M'Clintock  threw  himself  with  ardor  into  the  work 
he  loved  so  well,  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  but  found 
soon  that  his  health  was  not  equal  to  the  duties  of  his 
position,  and  after  a  year  he  retired  to  seek  repose.  He 
rented  the  Brown  Farm,"  at  Germantown,  near  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  could,  when  he  wished,  exchange  his 
pen  for  a  hoe,  watch  the  growing  of  his  fruit,  and  occupy 
himself  with  the  little  nothings  which  beguile  the  hours 
of  an  invalid's  day. 

To  the  Rev.  Professor  M'Cabe,  Delaware,  Ohio. 

New  York,  June,  18,  1864. 

Your  letter  was  like  your  call,  cheering  and  exhilarating.  Ever 
since  I  first  saw  you  I  have  felt  a  warm  attachment  to  you.  Through- 
out all  our  Church  controversies,  I  have  kept  my  personal  attach- 
ments above  and  apart  from  all  the  petty  strifes  of  the  hour.  1 
know  that  good  men  form  different  opinions  of  the  same  thing  from 
different  points  of  view,  and  I  have  been  too  earnest  an  abolitionist 
all  my  life  to  quarrel  with  even  extreme  men,  though  I  might  weep 
over  what  I  thought  to  be  their  errors  in  hurting  the  good  cause. 
All  your  kind  expressions  are  thoroughly  reciprocated  ;  I  feel  in  my 
heart,  though  not  in  my  flesh,  as  young  as  ever.  Does  not  this  con- 
tinuing youthfulness  of  the  affections  give  us  a  glimpse  of  what  heav- 
en, what  immortality  is  "> 

As  to  church  power,  I  have  never  sought  it  in  any  form  or  shape. 
Had  I  been  so  minded,  it  would  have  been  easy,  I  think,  to  go  with 
the  majority  at  Indianapolis  and  Buffalo,  but  my  judgment  and  con- 
science would  not  allow  me  to  do  this.  I  remain  of  the  same  mind  ; 
rejoicing  in  our  national  triumphs,  rejoicing  over  every  succcssi\  e 
blow  dealt  the  monster  which  has  caused  all  our  woe,  but  yet  sat- 
isfied that  we  should  have  been  in  a  very  different  position,  nation- 
ally and  ecclesiastically,  in  Maryland  and  Virginia,  and  that  we 
should  have  saved  thousands  upon  thousands  of  invaluable  lives  by 
a  different  ecclesiastical  course,    Siqce  the  Rebellion  our  Church 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


course  has  my  hearty  approval,  and  all  this  controversy,  thank  God, 
is  ended. 

The  "  Methodist  "  has,  in  my  judgment,  done  more  to  educate  the 
middle  region  to  antislavery  ideas  than  the  "  Adv^ocate  "  did,  or  even 
could  do.  Moreover,  for  twenty  years  I  have  longed  for  an  inde- 
pendent Methodist  paper,  loyal  but  firm.  My  residence  in  Europe 
has  confirmed  all  my  fears  of  the  dangers  of  ecclesiastical  corpora- 
tions. Nothing  but  free  criticism  can  save  them  from  rotting.  We 
Methodists  are  but  men  ;  therefore  I  think  the  "  Methodist  "  will  live 
and  ought  to  live.  There  must  always  be  men,  in  every  ecclesiastic- 
al and  political  body,  who  shall  work  for  the  best  good  of  the  body, 
without  holding  the  form  cf  power  in  it.  I  am  content  to  be  one  of 
these  men  in  our  Church.  All  that  I  have  of  intellect,  of  culture,  and 
of  position  in  the  world,  I  give  to  Methodism,  because  I  believe  Meth- 
odism to  be  the  best  form  of  American  Christianity.  But  if  Method- 
ism does  not  want  me  in  any  of  what  are  called  the  posts  of  power, 
I  am  not  only  content,  but  thankful  and  happy.  It  makes  me  shud- 
der to  see  men  eager  for  these  posts,  with  all  their  responsibilities. 
I  know  that  I  am  unfit  for  nearly  all  of  them,  and  my  Master  knows 
it  better  than  I  do.  It  is  He,  doubtless,  who  has  directed  all  my 
goings,  for  my  own  good,  as  well  as  for  that  of  the  Church. 

To  Mrs.  Dr.  Purdy. 

Germantonvn,  Mity  30,  1865. 

I  have  been  out  hoeing  and  pruning  till  I  have  got  all  heated  up, 
and  come  in  to  cool  myself  a  little.  I  use  the  rest  time  in  writing  to  you. 
We  are  all  rustics  :  our  old  clothes  are  turned  to  good  use.  Our  cow 
is  doing  well,  and  we  have  as  much  milk  and  cream  as  we  want.  We 
have  only  twelve  hens,  and  some  are  setting,  so  that  we  do  not  get  as 
many  eggs  as  we  ought  to  have.  We  had  a  duck  and  drake,  belong- 
ing to  some  neighbor,  we  do  not  know  who.  The  duck  went  to 
setting  on  a  lot  of  eggs,  and  the  drake  wandered  around  the  premises, 
doing  mischief  in  general.  So  we  just  cut  off  his  head  to  stop  his 
cutting  up.  Our  peas  are  coming  up  nicely;  strawberries  are  just 
ripe,  and  if  you  don't  come  on  you  wont  get  any  of  them  at  all  ;  cur- 


3^4 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


rants  and  gooseberries  make  nice  pies,  but  are  not  ripe  enough  to  eat 
otherwise  ;  cherries  are  growing  plump  and  red  ;  cabbage  is  coming 
to  a  head  ;  our  bay  horses,  Tom  and  jerry,  are  both  strong  and  very 
merr)- ;  we  have  also  a  gray,  whose  name  is  Jack,  very  slow  in  har- 
ness but  ver\-  good  to  back.  We  have  not  bought  a  dog,  nor  are  we 
quite  sure  that  it's  best  to  get  one — they  are  so  hard  to  cure  of  madness 
when  they're  bitten.  But  our  cat  is  a  beauty,  you  may  be  sure  of  that 
— a  regular  tortoise-shell,  which,  I  am  told,  is  the  finest  style  of  cats. 

She  is  not  bold,  but  will,  by  and  by,  without  doubt,  be  able  to 
run  all  the  rats  out  of  house  and  stable.  Gussie,  Maria,  and  Annie 
are  out  doors  picking  strawberries,  to  do  which  they  must  get  on  all 
fours,  a  job  I  don't  like  much  for  more  than  one  reason  :  my  head 
don't  better  by  stooping,  nor  my  chest  such  squeezing  as  you  get 
when  you  tr)'  to  pick  up  things  from  the  ground.  If  God  helps  this 
year  I  hope  to  get  round,  and  then  I  shall  try  to  do  all  that  I  can  to 
work  for  the  Church,  for  God,  and  for  man.  As  it  is  I  am  very  little 
good  to  any  body  but  myself,  my  wife  and  my  small  children,  and  a 
few  of  my  friends,  among  whom  I  am  sure  I  may  class  the  residents 
of  Fourth  Avenue  below  Twenty-second-street,  New  York,  who,  if 
they  have  as  much  sense  as  they  used  to  have,  will  soon  get  into  the 
cars  and  come  to  Kensington  Station,  where  we  shall  meet  them  with 
a  carriage,  and  bring  them  out  to  the  Brown  Farm. 

To  his  Son,  Emory  M' Clintock. 

Geemantown,  A%ugv,sl  3, 1S65. 

The  weather  has  been  very  hot,  but  is  a  little  more  tolerable  now. 
My  health  has  continued  to  improve  on  the  farm.  We  are  sorry  to 
leave  it,  but  our  funds  are  not  strong  enough  to  give  the  price  asked 
for  this  place,  beautiful  as  it  is.  We  shall  not  remove  to  New  Bruns- 
wick till  next  spring,  and  meantime  will  go  on  with  building  and 
other  improvements  there  to  make  it  suit  us. 

The  Harpers  are  going  on  with  the  Dictionary  again,  and  it  gives 
me  all  the  work  I  care  to  have.  I  hope  it  will  pay  some  day,  but  am 
doubtful  of  getting  all  the  money  back  I  have  spent  on  it,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  time  and  labor. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


365 


I  have  preached  but  twice  since  I  left  St.  Paul's,  and  intend  to 
keep  quiet  till  the  hot  weather  is  over.  It  is,  as  I  tell  you,  cooler 
weather  now  ;  but  the  thermometer  on  my  table,  in  the  coolest  place 
I  can  find  to  write — that  is,  in  the  front  hall — is  between  seventy  and 
eighty  degrees.  Not  so  very  cool  after  all.  The  crops  will  be  very 
great,  in  spite  of  all  croakers.  The  reconstruction  of  the  South  goes 
on,  but  not  well — thanks  to  the  want  of  statesmanship  which  kept  us 
four  years  at  war,  and  which  will  now  keep  us  ten  years  in  hot  water. 
But,  perhaps,  big  statesmen  would  be  the  death  of  us.  Slowly,  but 
surely,  the  true  democracy  prevails  in  this  land,  and  will  prevail  in  all 
lands,  England  included. 

To  the  same. 

Qeemantown,  December  24,  1865. 

A  happy  Christmas  !  The  ground  is  covered  with  snow,  the  air  is 
filled  with  sleety  rain- -too  stormy  a  day  for  Kate  and  me  to  go  to 
Church.  Maria,  John,  and  Annie  went  off,  however,  in  the  big  car- 
riage. The  evergreens  on  the  lawn  in  front  are  fretted  with  silver ; 
the  meadow  beyond  is  like  a  vast  counterpane  newly  bleached.  In 
doors  all  is  quiet,  warm,  and  cosy.  Aunt  Jane,  who  is  just  recover- 
ing from  an  attack  of  illness,  which  brought  her  so  low  that  she  was 
not  thought  likely  to  live  half  an  hour,  lies  on  the  sofa  in  the  parlor 
reading  the  "Methodist."  Mother  lies  on  the  sofa  in  her  bedroom 
reading  the  "  Independent."  I  sit  in  my  sanctum,  with  one  window 
looking  north  over  our  beautiful  lawns  and  fields,  dotted  with  firs  and 
elms,  to  the  woods  on  Cassadav's  farm,  which  limit  the  view  on  that 
side.  The  west  window  gives  a  wider  stretch.  On  that  side  the 
lawn  begins  to  slope  rapidly  some  twenty  yards  from  the  house  to  a 
deep  meadow,  which  rises  again  beyond  in  a  gentle  slope  to  a  hill  at 
the  west  end  of  the  farm,  behind  which,  again,  is  another  rising 
slope,  the  view  ending  in  a  belt  of  wooded  hills  a  mile  away.  All 
this  is  better  than  the  view  in  Rue  de  la  Plaine,  or  in  Fourth  Avenue. 

I  returned  from  New  Brunswick  on  Friday.  They  are  getting  on 
slowly  with  the  house  ;  but  it  will  be  ready  for  us  in  March.  The 
outside  is  gray,  with  rich  brown  trimmings  ;  observatory  or  belvedere 


366 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


on  top  of  house  with  a  view  of  thirty  miles,  and  the  Raritan  mean- 
dering through  it.  So  you  see  we  shall  be  well  off,  if  we  live  to  get 
there,  during  the  few  remaining  years  of  our  sojourn  upon  earth.  It 
will  not  be  long  before  all  these  cares  and  pleasures  will  come  to  an 
end,  and  I  look  for  a  better  home,  where  some  day,  in  your  turn,  I 
hope  to  see  you  coming  in. 

To  the  sajne. 

Geemastowx,  Dec.  .30, 1865. 

Just  received  your  letter.  I  am  not  surprised  very  much,  nor  am 
I  overmuch  sorry.  It  is,  perhaps,  quite  as  well  for  you  to  come 
home,  and  there  is  nothing  to  grieve  over  at  all. 

A  'importe ;  if  yours  by  next  steamer  puts  out  the  idea  that  any 
thing  can  be  done  at  Washington,  I  shall  go  on  and  try  it.  But  I 
do  not  see  that  any  thing  can  be  done  without  a  fight,  and  that 
would  hardly  pay. 

We  shall  get  into  our  new  house  in  March,  and  be  ready  for  you 
in  case  you  come  home ;  all  well.  There  will  be  plenty  of  ways 
for  you  to  use  your  time  and  talents  here  ;  this  being  at  the  mercy  of 
officials  is  poor  business.  So  don't  fret  about  spilled  milk,  and  don't 
go  to  calling  it  cream,  now  that  it  is  spilled. 

To  the  Rev.  Williain  Arthur. 

Geemaxtowjt,  January  30,  1S66. 

Being  in  Washington  this  week,  I  got  Grant's  and  Seward's  auto- 
graphs for  you.  I  could  not  get  to  Chase's  house,  but  will  secure  his 
anyhow  by  letter.  I  told  Grant  that  we  Methodists  had  pre-emp- 
tion rights  in  him,  and  he  talked  of  his  old  class-leading  father  with 
reverence,  regretting  that  he  himself  is  not  "in  full  connection,"  to 
use  his  own  phrase.  He  will  not  withdraw  the  troops  from  the  South 
till  all  is  pacified  ;  so  he  assured  me. 

I  had  a  long  talk  with  Johnson.  He  declared  to  me  that  if  the 
southern  people  abuse  the  negroes  he  will  use  all  the  power  of  the 
Government  to  protect  them  ;  but  he  said  also  that  he  believed  to  give 
them  the  suffrage  would  bring  on  an  immediate  war  of  races  after 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


our  troops  are  withdrawn.  I  told  him  I  had  ventured  to  predict,  ia 
a  speech  in  England  three  years  ago,  that  this  Rebellion  would  be 
put  down,  and  no  man  hung  for  political  crime.  "Yet,"  said  he, 
"  we  must  show  that  treason  is  a  crime.  As  to  bloodshed,  I  remem- 
ber that  He  who  was  most  offended,  and  who  was  strong  enough  to 
put  all  the  offenders  to  death,  himself  died  for  them."  It  was  said 
with  feeling,  too. 

To  the  Rev.  Dr.  T.  V.  Moore. 

Geemantowk,  Fehruary  20, 1S66. 

On  reaching  home  last  night  I  found  your  letter  of  14th,  and  the 
familiar  handwriting  gave  me  a  throb  of  pleasure.  But  what  on 
earth  makes  you  fear  that  the  war  and  its  works  can  affect  our 
hearts ;  you  did  not  make  the  war,  nor  did  I.  It  had  to  come,  and 
its  work  is  done.  Let  the  dead  bury  their  dead.  Do  you  remember 
our  talks  in  Richmond  in  1857  ?  You  told  me  that  if  Seward  should 
be  elected  in  i860  there  would  be  secession,  and  we  both  agreed 
that  if  secession,  then  war ;  and  you  gave  as  the  reason  that  young 
men  ruled  the  politics  of  the  time.  But  I  hope  to  talk  these  things 
over  with  you  quietly,  and  will  not  write  of  them.  My  health  is  so 
broken  up  that  I  am  resting  on  a  farm.  I  have  purchased  near  New 
Brunswick,  N.  J.,  and  we  remove  thither  in  a  few  weeks. 

My  son,  J.  Emory,  is  in  England,  where  he  has  been  for  several 
years.  My  daughter,  Augusta,  was  married  last  November,  and  so  our 
family  is  reduced.  Tell  me  of  yours.  Shall  you  come  North  shortly  ? 
I  cannot  put  into  a  letter  what  I  should  like  to  say  about  your  Eu- 
ropean trip,  not  half,  nor  quarter.  But  if  there  is  no  way  of  seeing 
you,  I  will  write,  of  course.  Two  points  I  may  mention  now  :  i.  It 
will  save  much  money  to  go  direct  to  Bremen,  as  the  fare  is  (or  was) 
as  great  to  Southamptori  as  to  Bremen,  and  then  take  England  on 
your  return,  sailing  home  either  from  Southampton  or  Liverpool ; 
2.  You  may  calculate,  roughly,  on  spending  $4  to  $5  (gold)  per  day, 
from  the  time  you  land  in  Europe  till  you  leave  it,  supposing  that 
you  stay  at  hotels,  say  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  days,  seven  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars.    But  it  may  be  done  for  less,  with  care  and  econ- 


368 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


omy.  I  did  it  once  for  less  ;  in  other  trips  more.  Of  course,  I  spent 
nothing  on  opera  tickets  and  the  hke.  nor  is  it  probable  that  you  will. 
But  write  and  let  me  know  if  I  shall  see  you  personally ;  if  not,  I  will 
write  my  ideas  fully  and  send  to  you. 

You  are  mistaken,  I  think,  in  supposing  that  "  many  here  feel  a 
change  "  from  the  war.  I  have  never  seen  man  or  woman  whose 
private  friendships  or  affections  have  been  modified.  Many  and 
many  a  time  I  have  thought  of  you  and  your  wife  and  little  ones,  and 
longed  to  hear  from  you.    God  bless  you  and  them  ! 

The  General  Confererrce  of  1864  had  prepared  a  com- 
prehensive scheme  for  the  celebration  of  the  Centenary 
of  American  Methodism  in  1866,  and  had  created  a  large 
committee  of  ministers  and  laymen  to  carry  out  its  direc- 
tions. The  committee  met  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1865,  and  after  drawing  up  a  schedule  of  objects 
for  which  the  gifts  of  the  Church  should  be  asked,  ap- 
pointed a  central  committee  of  six  persons  to  organize 
the  work  of  benevolence,  and  to  enlist  the  people  in  its 
support.  Of  this  committee  Dr.  M'Clintock  was  chair- 
man.^ The  committee  gave  to  the  Centenary  nearly 
two  years  of  unremitted  attention,  and  had  the  satisfac- 
tion of  seeing  their  labors  crowned  with  a  success  which 
outran  their  most  sanguine  hopes.  The  contributions  of 
the  people  for  all  objects  rose  to  the  sum  of  $7,000,000 ; 
local  and  general  interests  were  successfully  harmonized, 
and  at  the  close  of  their  work  the  .committee  received 
the  thanks  of  the  General  Conference,  which  met  in 
1868.     Dr.  M'Clintock  was  never  more  efficient  than 

*  The  menfxbers  of  the  Committee  were — Ministers  :  J.  M'Clintock, 
D.  Curry,  G.  R.  Crooks  ;  Laymen :  James  Bishop,  O.  Hoyt,  C.  C.  North. 
The  Rev.  W.  C.  Hoyt  was  made  Secretary. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  369 

during  the  period  of  his  connection  with  the  Central 
Committee.  His  address,  delivered  at  the  great  meet- 
ing held  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  New  York  city,  January 
25th,  1866,  was  one  of  the  most  powerful  that  he  ever 
delivered. 

Early  in  this  year  it  became  known  that  Mr.  Daniel 
Drew  contemplated  appropriating  a  large  sum  for  the 
founding  of  an  educational  institution.  Dr.  M'Clintock 
and  the  writer  were  requested  by  the  Central  Committee 
to  wait  upon  him  and  to  learn  his  intentions.  In  a  very 
brief  but  agreeable  interview  Mr.  Drew  informed  us 
that  it  was  in  his  mind  to  devote  two  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars  to  the  establishment  of  a  theologi- 
cal school,  stipulating  only  that  it  should  be  located  in 
the  place  of  his  birth,  Carmel,  Putnam  County,  New 
York.  Even  this  latter  condition  was  subsequently 
waived  by  him  when  it  was  found  that  another  place 
would  be  more  satisfactory  to  the  friends  of  education 
in  the  Church.  All  was  done  in  the  simplest  and  most 
unostentatious  manner.  It  was  understood  that  Mr.  Drew 
wished  Dr.  M'Clintock  to  be  the  first  president  and  or- 
ganizer of  the  seminary,  and  in  due  time  the  latter  became 
president.  Mr.  Drew  subsequently  went  beyond  his  orig- 
inal pledge,  and  charged  himself  with  the  obligation  of 
bestowing  a  half  million  of  dollars  for  the  founding  and 
equipment  of  the  institution.  If  his  recent  financial  mis- 
fortunes (in  which  he  has  the  sincere  sympathy  of  every 
lover  of  education)  have  disabled  him  from  fully  carry- 
ing out  his  benevolent  purpose,  it  should  not  be  for- 
gotten that  his  first  promise  has  been  fully  redeemed. 


3/0  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

Drew  Seminary,  which  was  finally  placed  at  Madison, 
New  Jersey,  is  now  in  possession  of  lands  and  build- 
ings of  the  value  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  has  received  from  its  founder  in  all  over  four 
hundred  thousand.  The  appreciation  of  the  value  of  Mr. 
Drew's  benefaction  has  been  shown  in  the  readiness  with 
which  others  have  come  forward  to  supplement  it,  and 
to  give  perpetuity  to  the  school  which  bears  his  name. 

The  seminary  was  formally  opened  on  Nov.  6,  1867,  in 
the  presence  of  a  large  assemblage,  drawn  from  all  parts  of 
the  territory  occupied  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
It  was  a  bright  and  balmy  autumn  day,  a  day  of  good 
omen.  The  exercises,  though  occupying  the  morning 
and  afternoon,  (with  a  collation  intervening,)  held  the 
undivided  attention  of  the  company.  In  his  explanation 
of  the  nature  of  the  work  about  to  be  undertaken  Dr. 
M'Clintock  said:  It  is  its  design  to  furnish  instruction 
in  theology  in  the  widest  sense  of  the  word,  and  in  the 
sciences  subsidiary  thereto,  and  especially  in  the  doc- 
trines and  Discipline  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
with  a  view  to  the  training  of  the  students  to  be  preach- 
ers of  the  Gospel  and  pastors  in  the  Church."  He  be- 
lieved it  to  be  of  the  last  importance  that  the  students 
should  be  educated  to  be  preachers,  (not  readers  of  ser- 
mons;)  a  provision  was  therefore  inserted  in  the  Consti- 
tution, which  required  the  "  professors,  both  by  their  in- 
struction and  by  their  personal  example,  to  aid  the  stu- 
dents to  form  habits  of  ready  and  effective  expression  ex 
tempore,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  use  of  written  discourses." 
Young  men  at  once  flocked  to  the  school,  and  have  con- 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  3/1 

tinued  to  fill  it  to  the  entire  extent  of  its  capacity  to 
accommodate  them. 

Upon  leaving  Germantown,  our  friend  purchased  a  farm 
near  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of 

Embury."  His  house  faced  the  Raritan  River,  towards 
which  its  grounds  sloped.  Here  he  busied  himself  with 
building,  draining,  sowing,  and  planting,  and,  bating  the 
discomforts  of  moving  his  household  goods,  he  enjoyed 
his  outdoor  life  greatly.  But  he  groaned  over  the  labor 
of  carrying  his  library  from  place  to  place.  In  October, 
l86i,  he  thus  sums  up  pathetically  the  annoyances  he 
had  endured  to  that  time  from  his  many  changes  of 
abode  :  Spent  morning  arranging  books,  papers,  etc., 
in  library  ;  very  irksome  work.  I  have  had  it  to  do  eight 
times  since  1848 — once  at  J.  City,  1848;  New  Brunswick, 
1851  ;  Carlisle,  1853  ;  Irving  Place,  1857  I  St.  Paul's  Par- 
sonage, 1859;  Ecuries,  Paris,  i860;  Rue  Balzac, 
i860;  Rue  de  la  Plaine,  1861.  The  vexation  and  an- 
noyance of  these  changes  is  excessive ;  destruction  and 
loss  of  books  very  costly.  The  itinerancy  does  not  suit 
men  whose  pursuits  require  a  large  librar)\  It  must  be 
modified  or  such  men  will  shun  it.  Just  now  I  am  only 
half  living,  so  far  as  books  go.  I  brought  from  New 
York  to  Paris  but  about  one  thousand  volumes,  leaving 
several  thousand  behind." 

He  had  been  too  busy  for  some  years  to  keep  his  diary 
with  regularity;  but  the  entries  in  the  early  part  of  1866 
are  unusually  full : — 

Mofiday,  January  15. — Left  home  (Germantown)  at  9 ;  drove 
to  Philadelphia  in  two-horse  carriage  with  Jane  and  Kit,  and  left 


372  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

Prime-street  station  at  1 1  :  30.  On  train,  talked  with  General  Owens 
about  the  war  ;  gave  me  some  graphic  sketches  of  battles  ;  after  Mal- 
vern Hill  we  could  have  been  in  Richmond  in  a  few  hours  if  M'Clel- 
lan  had  not  been  too  timid.  Reached  Washington  at  6  P.  M.  in  a 
driving  snow-storm. 

Tuesday,  January  16. — Creswell  and  I  went  to  see  General  Grant ; 
very  affable  and  pleasant.  He  said  it  was  impossible  for  us  to  withdraw 
our  troops  from  the  South,  and  would  be  for  a  long  time.  "  They 
would  cut  each  other's  throats.*'  I  asked  him  whether  native  Ameri- 
cans were  less  docile  and  subordinate  as  soldiers  than  other  races. 
"  Not  at  all ;  their  individuality  is  great,  but  does  not  interfere  with 
subordination,  and  they  make,  therefore,  the  best  soldiers.  They 
know  what  they  fight  for,  and  know  also  that  men  can't  fight 
in  bodies  without  subordination."  "All  our  soldiers  yet  in  the 
field  are  clamorous  to  be  mustered  out :  that  is  our  difficulty 
of  keeping  troops  in  the  South."  Creswell  asked  him  if  he  had 
said  50,000  American  troops  would  beat  any  other  50,000.  "  No. 
But  I  do  say  that  with  50,000  of  the  men  who  marched  down  Penn- 
sylvania Avenue  from  the  war,  with  their  officers,  from  sergeants  to 
generals,  I  would  undertake  to  fight  any  75.000  European  troops, 
with  their  officers;  our's  having  had  their  three  years'  discipline." 
Altogether  his  talk  was  very  sensible  and  thoughtful. 

Wedjiesday,  January  ly. — At  10  A.  M.  Senator  Creswell  accom- 
panied my  brother  and  myself  to  see  President  Johnson.  Many  were 
waiting,  but  the  senator  took  precedence.  The  President  received  us 
most  cordially.  He  is  about  my  size,  dark  complexion  ;  talked  of  his 
health  and  eyes,  which  trouble  him.  Creswell  told  him  the  object  of 
my  visit.  I  said,  "  We  (that  is,  Methodists,  not  as  politicians)  desire 
to  support  your  Government,  as  it  is  our  Christian  duty  to  do  so. 
But  we  are  befogged  by  what  we  hear  of  the  difficulties  between  you 
and  Congress."  He  smiled  and  said  "  I  will  talk  frankly  and  fully," 
and  went  into  a  long  statement  of  the  principles  of  his  Government. 
"We  must  look  at  facts,"  he  said  over  and  over  again.  I  told  him 
we  wanted  to  know  his  views  as  to  the  protection  of  the  four  mill- 
ions of  human  beings  who  were  made  his  wards  by  emancipation. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


373 


"  They  shall  not  be  oppressed  while  I  am  President.  I  will  protect 
them  to  the  last  atom  of  the  power  of  the  Government."  He  dwelt 
upon  this  at  full  length.  Then,  as  to  negro  suffrage,  he  said  :  "  If  I 
were  satisfied  that  suffrage  was  the  best  thing  for  the  protection  and 
advancement  of  the  negroes,  I  should  give  it  to  them.  But  with  my 
knowledge  of  the  '  poor  whites '  of  the  South,  I  am  satisfied  they 
would  butcher  the  negroes  sooner  than  vote  with  them."  He  dwelt 
on  the  need  of  time.  "  The  South  has  advanced  in  sentiment 
in  one  year  more  than  the  North  in  twenty.    Give  them  more  time." 

I  do  not  agree  with  him  as  to  suffrage.  It  could  have  been  given  in 
a  month  after  Lincoln's  death,  and  would  have  been  accepted.  With 
the  ballot  the  negroes  would  have  been  protected  effectually.  The 
President  said,  "  I  must  think  for  myself;  but  if  I  can  be  convinced  I 
am  wrong,  I  think  I  have  sense  and  self-command  enough  to  change 
my  course."  This  talk  went  on  about  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  when 
the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  came  in  with  the  Canadian  delegates 
about  reciprocity.  We  then  got  up,  but  still  the  President  kept  us  stand- 
ing about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  more.  I  was  greatly  surprised  at  his 
urbanity,  and  even  his  affectionate  way.  I  had  not  looked  for  it.  He 
impressed  me  as  a  man  very  strong  within  his  sphere  of  thought  and 
knowledge.  But  I  did  not  get  the  sense,  in  his  presence,  of  a  supe- 
rior atmosphere,  so  to  speak,  as  I  did  in  Lincoln's.  Lincoln's  mind 
seemed  greatly  more  susceptible,  and  more  comprehensive — ready  to 
get  at  truth  from  any  quarter,  and  to  assimilate  it. 

Monday,  January  31. — Finished  article  "  Arminianism  "  for  Dic- 
tionary. Read  for  it  Bayle,  Cunningham,  Nicholls,  Ebrard,  Nean- 
der,  and  others. 

Wed7iesday,  February  2. — Rose  at  7:20;  made  articles  "  Ar- 
nauld,"  (3),  and  "  Arnold  of  Brescia  "  for  Cyclopaedia. 

April  13. — Left  our  house,  at  Germantov.'n,  March  25,  and  stayed 
at  Mr.  Bishop's,  New  Brunswick,  till  April  12,  waiting  for  house  at 
Embury  Farm  to  be  ready.  Ever)-  thing  in  confusion  as  we  enter. 
The  year  1866  was  devoted  chiefly  to  the  centenar}'  work  of  the  M. 
E.  Church,  I  being  chairman  of  the  Central  Committee.  For  this 
service  I  neither  asked  nor  received  any  remuneration. 


374 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


Friday,  June  24. — Sunday,  preached  in  chapel  of  St.  James,  New 
Brunswick,  on  Matt,  vi,  2.  I  have  now  preached  for  St.  James'  con- 
gregation every  Sunday  since  April  22,  as  they  have  no  stationed 
minister,  without  remuneration  of  any  sort. 

July  18. — Continued  as  pastor  of  St.  James  until  spring  of  1867 
In  March,  1867,  finding  that  Mr.  Drew's  centenary  gift  for  theo- 
logical education  was  not  likely  to  be  consummated  soon,  unless  I 
agreed  to  accept  the  presidency  of  the  seminary  to  be  founded  by 
him,  I  agreed  to  do  so — my  salary  to  commence  in  the  spring  of  the 
year.  The  purchase  of  the  Gibbons  estate  was  consummated  in 
June.  My  work,  for  seminary,  from  March  till  November,  consisted 
of,  I.  The  organization  and  plan  of  instruction  ;  2.  Arrangement  of 
Board  of  Trustees  and  meetings  thereof  for  organization ;  3.  Study 
of  all  European  catalogues  for  purchase  of  books  through  H.  B. 
Lane,  agent. 

In  November  broke  up  my  beautiful  home  on  the  Raritan  with 
great  reluctance,  and  removed  to  the  Gibbons  mansion.  Sold  part 
of  my  furniture,  Mr.  Drew  agreeing  to  give  me  what  furniture  I 
needed  out  of  the  Gibbons  house.  Spent  autumn  of  1867  in  organiz- 
ing the  seminar)',  which  opened  in  November,  and  the  troubles  of 
that  autumn  and  winter,  with  delays  of  workmen,  with  seminary 
work,  with  buildings,  etc.,  no  mortal  can  know. 

The  discomforts  of  moving  were  speedily  overcome  and 
forgotten,  and  once  settled  in  the  Gibbons  mansion,  Dr. 
M'Clintock's  life  went  on  very  happily.  It  is  a  house  of 
princely  proportions.  The  spacious  library  suited  him 
perfectly ;  the  broad  porches  afforded  him  exercise  in 
stormy  weather,  and  the  grounds,  covered  with  young 
forest  trees,  gratified  his  sense  of  the  beautiful  in  nature. 
Yet  it  cost  him  an  effort  to  break  up  his  New  Brunswick 
home.  In  establishing  it  he  had  made  one  more  effort 
to  attain  his  ideal  of  a  union  of  out-door  activities  with 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


375 


Study.  He  writes  almost  pathetically  to  his  daughter  : 
There  seems  to  me  to  be  no  rest  for  us  in  this 
world."  He  was  like  a  bird,  he  said,  that  had  no  nest. 
But  his  habit  of  looking  at  the  humorous  side  of  every 
situation  served  him  well  here,  and  his  correspon- 
dence with  his  family  soon  ran  on  in  the  old  delight- 
ful way: — 

To  his  Daughter,  Mrs.  Augusta  Lotigacre. 

New  Brunswick,  Sunday^  June  2,  1S66. 

It  is  a  sort  of  rainy  day,  but  we  have  all  been  at  church,  except 
mother,  who  is  not  well  enough  to  go  yet,  and  Emory,  who  could 
not  find  the  key  of  his  trunk  in  time  to  get  his  best  coat  out.  Anne  is 
in  New  York  visiting  her  aunt,  a  visit  which  has  kept  her  in  a  flutter 
for  a  fortnight.  She  had  a  party  there  yesterday  afternoon.  I  am 
to  fetch  her  home  to-morrow  ;  all  are  well.  Emory  has  been  up  at 
Carmel  for  a  fortnight,  surveying  the  grounds  for  the  new  college ; 
he  got  back  yesterday. 

We  are  afraid  that  if  you  do  not  come  here  soon  you  will  not 
come  at  all.  Emory  wants  you  while  he  is  here.  So  you  see  the 
propriety  of  hurrying  up  your  arrangements  as  rapidly  as  possible. 
We  have  not  finished  the  outside  of  the  house  yet,  but  the  inside 
is  as  neat  as  wax,  and  we  want  you  to  see  it  while  it  is  nice,  and 
has  the  new  shine  on.  Moreover,  it  will  burst  out  hot  one  of  these 
days,  and  then  it  wont  be  so  nice  to  you. 

The  building  at  Carmel  will  take  a  year,  or  a  year  and  a  half,  to 
complete,  so  that  our  going  there  is  a  thing  of  the  future.  All  will 
be  ordered  right.  I  have  found  it  so  thus  far  in  my  pilgrimage,  and 
expect  it  to  be  so  to  the  end,  whether  the  way  be  rough  or  smooth. 
Let  this  be  your  way  of  thinking  and  feeling,  and  you  will  find  life  a 
much  better  thing  than  if  you  fret  about  its  uncertainties.  God  bless 
you  !    Do  write  oftener. 


376 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


To  the  same. 

Nkw  Bkikswick,  March  27,  1867. 

It  is  Sunday  morning ;  the  first  rest  Sunday  I  have  had  for  many  a 
long  day,  and  I  am  enjoying  it  greatly.  I  did  not  get  up  till  after 
eight,  and  decided  net  to  go  to  church  at  all,  not  that  I  am  partic- 
ularly unwell,  but  simply  jaded,  and  feel  that  a  good  rest  will  be 
welcome.  So  I  take  part  of  my  pleasure  in  writing  to  you.  On 
week-days  it  is  nothing  but  write,  write,  all  day  long.  What  with  the 
Dictionary,  of  which  the  second  volume  is  in  progress,  and  the  Drew 
Seminary,  and  the  winding  up  of  the  Centenary,  and  my  own  private 
affairs,  and  the  New  Brunswick  Church,  and  all  my  European  cor- 
respondence, I  am  literally  fagged  out  when  night  comes.  By  the 
way,  the  Drew  Seminary  is  organized,  and  we  are  in  correspondence 
about  the  Faculty.  It  will  begin  in  September,  and  by  that  time  we 
shall  remove  there.    There  seems  to  be  no  rest  for  us  in  this  world. 

Every  thing  here  is  arranged  to  our  heart's  content,  and  we  must 
pull  up  stakes  and  leave  it.  Arthur  wrote  me  some  time  ago  that  we 
must  not  build  nests  for  ourselves  here,  but  just  find  a  good  twig  to 
rest  on,  and  hop  to  another.  We  have  been  tiviggzng  all  our  lives, 
and  appear  likely  to  keep  at  it  to  the  end.  At  the  end,  we  trust,  there 
is  a  house,  not  made  with  hands,  prepared  for  us  in  heaven.  It  is 
hard  for  us  to  go  to  Carmel,  and  the  earthly  inducements  are  not 
great ;  $2,500,  and  house  (not  built  yet)  near  a  little  village  of  three 
hundred  people,  and  near  nothing  else  but  the  blue  lake  and  the 
eternal  hills,  and  our  heavenly  Father.  We  shall  have  almost  no 
company  but  the  Faculty  and  our  friends  who  visit  us.  That  wont 
trouble  me,  as  my  books  and  work  are  full  company,  so  long  as  I 
have  health  ;  but  it  will  not  be  well  for  Maria  and  mother. 

One  point  of  morals  before  I  close.  The  Chinese  have  kept  up  or- 
ganized human  society,  with  an  immense  population,  for  thousands 
of  years.  I  think  this  singular  longevity  is  due  to  the  doctrine  of 
filial  piety,  which  penetrates  the  national  life.  Now,  I  do  not  want 
you  to  set  up  votive  tablets  in  your  drawing-room,  and  bum  incense 
before  them  to  the  shades  of  your  ancestors,  Irish  or  Indian.    But  I 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


377 


want  you  to  consider  whether  it  is  right  for  you  to  leave  us  for  weeks 
without  a  scrap  of  writing  from  you  ?  You  now  owe  mother  two 
letters,  and  Maria  one.  I  know  all  about  your  health  and  your  mani- 
fold duties.  But  with  all  that,  you  could  write  a  letter,  longer  or 
shorter,  once  a  week,  and  I  shall  not  consider  you  up  to  your  duty, 
much  less  to  your  privileges,  until  you  do  that  thing.  Take  it  seri- 
ously to  heart.  All  join  in  love  to  James  and  the  baby,  with  kisses. 
I  hope  change  of  air  will  cure  that  "  rash  "  infant. 

In  the  year  1868  Dr.  M'Clintock  was  a  delegate  to  the 
General  Conference  which  met  in  Chicago,  and  advocated 
the  admission  of  the  laity  to  that  body  in  a  speech  of 
great  power.  He  had  been  for  years  an  outspoken  sup- 
porter of  this  change  in  the  polity  of  the  Church,  but  did 
not  live  to  see  it  consummated.  The  time  has  hardly 
come  for  writing  the  history  of  a  movement  which  peace- 
fully closed  a  debate  of  fifty  years'  duration.  One  of  Dr. 
M'Clintock's  latest  published  essays  was  a  tract  on  Lay 
Delegation,  written  while  the  popular  vote  was  pending, 
and  giving  a  reason  for  "  the  faith  that  was  in  him." 

He  felt  his  burden  of  work  during  these  last  years  to 
be  very  heavy.  His  Cyclopaedia  demanded  unceasing  at- 
tention ;  the  organization  of  the  seminary  and  the  teach- 
ing of  his  classes,  and  his  correspondence,  taxed  all  the  re- 
sources of  his  strength.  In  addition  to  this  work  done 
on  secular  days,  he  preached  nearly  every  Sunday,  sup- 
plying during  the  last  months  of  his  stay  in  New  Bruns- 
wick the  pulpit  of  St.  James'  Church  in  that  city,  and  in 
1868-9,  in  association  with  Dr.  Foster,  the  pulpit  of  St. 
Luke's  Church,  New  York.  In  the  spring  of  1869  symp>- 
toms  that  he  understood  warned  him  that  he  must  seek 


3/8 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


rest.  He  closed  his  house,  and  with  his  family  went  over 
to  England  again,  the  England  he  loved  so  well. 

To  Mr.  Fletcher  Harper. 

Leamington,  July  25, 1S69. 

Thus  far  our  journey  has  been  very  successful  and  happy.  My 
health  is  wonderfully  mended.  Mrs.  M'Clintock  has  not  improved 
so  much,  but  yet  she  is  in  many  respects  better.  All  the  rest  of  the 
party  are  very  well  indeed.  We  spent  nearly  four  weeks  in  London, 
where  we  had  nice  lodgings  at  the  West  End  at  a  moderate  price.  I 
saw  our  friends,  S.  Low  and  J.  Low,  Junior,  frequently.  They  are 
very  little  changed.  We  have  had  a  fortnight  here,  seeing  all  the 
beauties  of  Warwickshire,  and  having  an  excellent  home  in  a  fur- 
nished house.  In  a  day  or  two  we  go  to  Derby,  (Chatsworth,)  etc., 
and  thence  to  York.  After  that  a  fortnight  in  the  Lake  Country  will 
finish  our  trip.  The  weather  has  been  the  perfect  English  summer 
which  Hawthorne  describes — three  or  four  days  only  have  been  too 
hot  for  comfortable  walking.  The  average  thermometer  indoors  has 
been  seventy  degrees. 

I  am  deeply  thankful  to  God  for  the  opportunity  of  this  trip,  which 
has  given  my  system  rest  just  when  perseverance  at  work  during  the 
hot  weather  at  home  would  probably  have  put  an  end  to  all  earthly 
labors  soon.  But  the  end  cometh  for  us  all,  when  no  man  can 
work.  Our  friends  leave  us — by  and  by  we  shall  be  old,  and  before 
long  we,  too,  shall  be  gone. .  God  grant  that  for  you  and  me  the 
change,  when  it  comes,  may  only  be  the  hap])y  passage  to  the  pres- 
ence of  our  God  and  Saviour,  which  is  the  true  aim  of  good  living 
here  !  And,  in  the  mean  time,  may  you  and  I,  old  friend,  do  our  work 
cheerfully,  looking  for  that  blessed  hope. 

I  wish  that  you  and  Mrs.  Harper  were  with  us,  though  I  know 
well  that  duty  keeps  you  at  home.  I  have  heard,  with  pain,  a  rumor 
that  your  brother,  John,  has  been  seriously  ill,  I  hope  the  story  is 
untrue,  or,  at  least,  that  he  has  recovered.  Make  my  cordial  salu- 
tations and  sympathies  to  him,  and  also  to  your  brother,  Joseph  Wes- 
ley.   The  old  times  come  up  to  me  as  I  write,  and  the  old  faces. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


3/9 


To  his  Sister,  Miss  Jane  Clintock. 

ScAKBoROUGU,  Augufit  S,  1869. 

I  wrote  to  you  from  London,  and  Kate  wrote  from  there  or  from 
Leamington.  But  we  have  no  letter  from  you  since  we  sailed.  I  be- 
gin to  fear  that  you  have  been  ill,  but  hope  it  has  not  been  so.  You 
are  generally,  however,  so  good  a  correspondent  that  your  silence  is 
always  suspicious. 

We  all  went  to  the  Primitive  Methodist  Church  this  morning. 
The  congregation  was  very  large,  and  the  whole  services  was  old  St. 
George's  over  again  —  except  that  there  was  a  good  organ  and  very 
fine  singing.  The  aniens  and  shouts  here  just  such  as  we  used  to 
hear  in  Fourth-street.  The  preacher  was  not  a  Primitive,  but  an 
eminent  Wesleyan.  He  adapted  his  sermon,  however,  to  his  audi- 
ence, with  great  skill  and  tact. 

We  have  improved  in  health  more  at  Scarborough  than  anywhere 
else,  and  all  wish  we  had  come  here  sooner.  We  can  only  stay  to 
the  end  of  this  week,  as  we  are  engaged  to  be  at  Mr.  Darlington's 
by  the  fourteenth  of  this  month.  After  that  we  go  to  the  English 
lakes,  and  sail  from  Liverpool  on  the  eight  of  September  in  the  Col- 
orado. We  have  g^ven  up  our  trip  to  Ireland,  chiefly  on  account  of 
the  extra  expense  in  which  it  will  involve  us. 

Living  in  lodgings  is  very  comfortable.  I  wish  the  plan  were 
adopted  in  America.  It  would  be  veiy  nice  for  people  of  moderate 
means,  as  you  can  make  the  expense  just  what  you  please. 

The  British  Conference  is  sitting  not  far  from  here,  but  as  I  came 
away  for  my  health,  I  have  not  been  near  it,  nor  do  I  intend  to  go. 

To  his  Sister,  Mrs.  Joseph  Gray  don. 

Keswick,  An(just  26,  1S69. 

Your  letter  was  very  welcome.  I  had  written  you  another  letter, 
but  it  seems  to  have  lost  itself. 

We  have  been  here  now  five  days,  and  the  last  two  have  been 
the  warmest  we  have  had  in  England.  The  thermometer  has  reached 
seventy-six  degrees  in  a  sunny  room  indoors,  and  outdoors  the  sun 


380 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


has  been  too  hot  for  me  to  walk  out  in  the  middle  of  the  day.  Our 
visit  at  Xethenvood  was  one  of  the  best  parts  of  our  trip  :  ever}  body 
in  the  house,  sen  ants  included,  was  full  of  kindness,  and  ever}  thing 
was  done,  indoors  and  out,  to  make  our  time  pass  agreeably.  We 
had  a  splendid  day  at  Bolton  Abbey. 

I  climbed  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  had  a  ramble  among  heather 
on  the  moors  for  the  first  time  in  my  life.  We  are  in  excellent  quar- 
ters here,  at  the  Keswick  Hotel,  and  have  seen  most  of  the  lions. 
Maria  and  Bella  went  to  the  top  of  the  Skiddaw  on  ponies,  and  came 
back  well  tanned  and  freckled.  Kate  and  I  have  confined  our  excur- 
sions to  regions  practicable  for  wheel  carriages.  The  only  drawback 
I  have  had  has  been  rheumatism,  which  is  now  passing  away. 

To-morrow  we  leave  here  for  Bowness  :  stay  in  that  neighborhood 
till  Tuesday,  and  then  go  to  Liverpool  to  prepare  for  sailing. 

We  can  hardly  yet  realize  that  Mrs.  Elliott  is  gone,  and  that  we 
shall  see  her  kind  face  no  more.  I  think  she  is  one  of  the  best  illus- 
trations I  ever  knew  of  the  power  of  personal  kindness  to  make 
friends  and  to  disarm  enmity. 

This  trip  was,  as  his  letters  show,  enjoyed  greatly,  yet 
on  his  return  he  was  but  little  stronger.  His  step 
was  slower ;  indeed,  the  old  alertness  of  movement  was 
wholly  gone.  The  brave,  cheery  spirit,  the  genial  inter- 
est in  men,  women,  children,  and  in  life  for  what  it 
brought  him  every  day,  were  not  changed — as  to  these 
he  was  the  same  as  ever.  He  took  up  his  work  in 
the  autumn  where  he  had  dropped  it  in  the  summer, 
and  went  on  with  it  though  he  knew  that  his  strength 
was  ebbing  away.  His  friends  knew  it,  too,  for  its 
signs  were  plainly  visible.  In  lecturing  to  the  stu- 
dents during  the  winter  of  1869  he  would  occasion- 
ally drop  the  thread  of  his  discourse,  and  be  for  a  mo- 
ment or  two  unconscious  of  their  presence.     Still  he 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  38 1 

preached  on  alternate  Sundays  at  St.  Luke's,  though 
so  feeble  that  a  carriage  was  needed  to  carry  him  to  and 
from  the  church.  One  of  these  last  Sundays  was  spent 
at  my  house ;  in  the  afternoon  a  walk  was  proposed  to 
the  Central  Park,  a  few  blocks  distant.  He  had  only 
reached  it  when  he  begged  to  be  taken  back.  This  out- 
cry of  weakness  made  us  all  feel  sad  enough.  Yet  dur- 
ing the  day,  and  on  like  days,  he  was,  when  sitting  in  the 
house,  so  full  of  wise  and  playful  talk,  and  so  capable  of 
enjoying  whatever  others  enjoyed,  that  a  stranger  would 
not  have  supposed  him  an  invalid.  It  was  only  when  he 
rose  and  moved  that  the  exhaustion  of  his  vitality  be- 
came painfully  visible. 

The  last  letter  from  him  that  has  come  into  my 
hands,  written  only  twelve  days  before  his  death,  was 
addressed  to  his  friend,  Mr.  Fletcher  Harper.  I  have 
hardly  dared  trust  myself  to  speak  of  his  long  friend- 
ship with  the  Harper  Brothers,  so  trustful  on  both  sides, 
and  so  honorable  in  them  all.  As  his  years  increased, 
his  heart  turned  back  to  the  old  times  when  he  and 
they  were  younger.  The  letter  is  such  a  one  as  fitly 
closes  Dr.  M'Clintock's  varied  correspondence : — 

To  Mr,  Fletcher  Harper. 

Madison,  N.  J.,  February  20,  ISTO. 

It  was  a  great  grief  to  me  that  I  could  not  go  to  the  funeral  of 
your  brother,  Wesley.  For  ten  days  I  have  been  confined  to  the 
house  by  inflammation  of  the  windpipe.  I  am  better,  but  yet  unable 
to  go  out.  Twice  I  fixed  days  to  go  to  Brooklyn  during  his  last 
weeks  of  life,  but  both  times  was  prevented  by  storms. 
When  I  was  a  young  preacher  I  was  occasionally  invited  to  preach  in 


382 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


New  York.  You  may  remember  that  you  several  times  walked  with  me 
to  church  on  these  occasions.  But  Wesley  did  it  several  times,  also. 
During  this  illness  he  has  been  in  my  mind  a  great  deal,  and  somehow 
always  in  connexion  with  these  walks,  as  if  the  inten  ening  time  were 
nothing.  Two  features  impressed  me  then,  and  they  have  remained 
associated  with  my  thoughts  of  him  ever  since — his  wisdom  and  his 
kindness.  Boy  as  I  was,  he  seemed  much  older — certainly  he  was 
ver}-  much  wiser.  His  shrewd  nature,  his  sagaciou-s  insight,  his  habit 
of  observation  of  preachers  and  preaching,  enabled  him  to  give  good 
advice  ;  and  he  gave  it  so  kindly  that  you  hardly  knew  or  felt  that  he 
was  advising  at  all.  Then  his  criticisms  upon  the  sermon,  reaching 
not  simply  to  its  structure  and  to  its  form,  but  to  its  spiritual  aims 
and  worth,  and  always  given  with  so  much  judgment,  and  with  a 
sweet  kindness,  that  made  them  seem  more  like  praise  than  criticism, 
did  a  great  deal,  I  remember,  to  enlighten  me  upon  my  own  duty 
and  work. 

Not  many  months  ago,  dear  friend,  I  wrote  you  on  the  death  of 
your  brother,  James.  We  are  all  tending  to  the  same  bourne — I  trust 
to  the  same  heaven.  Of  all  the  successes  of  your  brother  Wesley 
his  greatest  was  that  he  kept  his  religious  life  and  his  simple  faith. 
In  those  last  bright  weeks  in  Clark-street,  the  light  which  made  his 
sick-room  so  cheer)^  and  so  beautiful  a  place,  was  the  light,  not  of 
earth,  but  of  heaven.  It  would  have  been  the  same  if  he  had  died 
a  poor  man  ;  but  that  he  kept  the  faith,  to  die  so  beautifully,  as  a  rich 
man,  this  was  indeed  a  wonder  of  success  in  the  highest  sense  of  the 
word. 

It  cannot  be  very  long  before  the  summons  will  come  for  you  and 
me.  There  are  few  men  living  for  whom  I  have  so  strong  a  personal 
affection  as  for  you.  I  wish  that  we  lived  nearer  to  you,  and  that  I 
could  see  you  oftener  during  these  swiftly  passing  days  before  the 
sunset.  But,  as  this  cannot  be,  may  God  grant  us  his  abundant  peace 
to  spend  these  days  in  his  fear  and  love,  that  we  may  be  reunited 
with  all  that  are  dear  to  us  in  the  unchanging  life  above  ! 

Ever  your  friend,  John  :^I'Clintock. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  383 

There  was  still  hope  felt  that  he  would  rally  from  his 
prostration,  as  he  had  rallied  so  often  before.  But  on 
the  third  of  March,  1870,  the  telegraph  summoned  his 
friends  in  haste  to  Madison.  They  went  fearing  the  worst. 
He  had  been  seized  with  fever,  and  when  we  arrived  was 
wholly  unconscious.  The  felicity  that  had  marked  all  his 
days  attended  him  even  in  dying,  for  the  friends  of  his 
boyhood,  his  youth,  and  manhood  were  with  him.  At  a 
late  hour  the  company,  save  the  chosen  watchers,  sepa- 
rated for  rest,  cheered,  too,  by  a  faint  gleam  of  hope. 
Shortly  after  midnight  he  awoke  once  more  to  conscious- 
ness, and  recognized  his  son,  and  his  colleague  in  the 
seminary.  Dr.  Foster. 

"  Foster,  is  that  you?    I  am  very  sick,  am  I  not?" 
Yes,"  was  the  answer,     you  are  very  sick,  but  we 
have  hope  that  you  may  recover  yet." 

"  No  !  no  !  "  said  the  patient,  "but  no  matter  what  the 
event,  it's  all  right."  And  pausing  for  a  moment  as  if 
meditating,    It's  all  right,  all  right." 

These  were  his  last  words.  In  the  early  morning  a 
messenger  bade  us  hasten  to  the  sick  chamber.  Before 
it  was  reached  all  was  over.  Dr.  M'Clintock  breathed 
no  more.  The  heart  that  had  through  so  many  years  re- 
sponded to  every  generous  impulse  was  still. 


384 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Tributes  to  the  Memory  of  Dr.  M'Clintock:  From  Dr.  W.  H.  Allen— Bishop  Janes  on 
the  Elements  of  his  Power— His  Early  Life,  by  Mr.  T.  A.  Howe— Mr.  C.  C.  North  on  his 
Industry  and  Organizing  Talent— The  Eev.  William  Arthurs  Kecollections— The  Young 
Professor,  by  the  Eev.  Dr.  Deems—The  Hon.  John  Bigelow  on  Dr.  M'CIintock's  Life  in 
Paris— His  Social  Qualities,  by  Mrs.  Mary  S.  Kobinson— The  Ri'v.  Dr.  Hurst  on  his  Help- 
fulness to  Young  Americans  in  Europe — His  Leading  Mental  and  Moral  Traits,  by  the 
Author  of  this  Memoir. 

T  SHALL  not  attempt  an  estimate  of  Dr.  M'Clintock's 
character,  for  it  has  been  sufficiently  portrayed  in  the 
passages  from  his  journals  and  letters  contained  in  this 
memoir.  It  was  a  character  transparently  clear.  There 
were  in  it  no  dark  and  hidden  passages  which  the  light 
never  reached.  All  was  with  him  as  open  as  day.  He 
had  nothing  to  conceal,  for,  with  his  utmost  strength,  he 
tried  to  live  an  upright,  manly  life.  Nor  is  it  needful  to 
dwell  upon  the  tenderness  with  which  loving  hands  com- 
mitted all  that  was  mortal  of  him  to  its  last  resting- 
place.  It  will  be  more  fitting  to  gather  together  the 
many  tributes  paid  to  his  worth  by  his  friends,  and  out 
of  them  weave  a  wreath,  to  lay  upon  his  grave  : — 

"  Since  the  death  of  M'Clintock,  so  many  beautiful 
and,  in  the  main,  truthful  notices  of  his  life,  works,  and 
character  have  been  written — the  best  and  most  discrim- 
inating of  them  by  AlujJini  of  Dickinson,  his  former 
pupils — that  to  one  ambitious  of  fame  it  would  almost 
seem  worth  while  to  exchange  life  for  such  abounding 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  385 

praise."^  If  the  beatified  spirit  were  sensible  of  earthly 
eulogy,  our  choicest  expressions  of  admiration  would 
not  add  a  feather  to  that  eternal  weight  of  glory,  nor  a 
drop  of  blessing  to  those  joys  which  it  hath  not  entered 
the  mind  of  man  to  conceive.  But  while  our  plaudits 
cannot  penetrate  the  ear  of  death,  nor  our  incense  stir 
its  torpid  brain,  every  just  eulogium  is  an  incentive  to 
those  who  survive.  It  is  an  exhortation  and  a  promise 
— go  thou  and  do  likewise,  and  thy  name  no  less  than 
his  shall  be  a  memory  and  an  example. 

M'Clintock,  like  Goethe,  was  '  many  sided,'  and,  like 
a  fortress,  every  side  had  its  salient  angles.  Hence  the 
photographs  of  his  character  vary  with  the  focal  distance 
of  the  lens,  the  quality  of  the  light,  the  pose  of  the 
sitter,  and  expertness  of  the  operator.  While  in  all  of 
them  we  recognize  the  man,  we  fail  to  find  in  any  one  of 
them  all  the  man.  I  shall  attempt  no  exhaustive  anal- 
ysis. I  propose  nothing  more  than  a  sketch,  with  rude 
pencil  but  loving  hand,  of  a  few  of  the  more  prominent 
and  obvious  traits  of  that  distinguished  man,  as  at  my 
point  of  observation  and  in  the  light  I  had  they  appeared 
to  me. 

The  youngest  of  our  corps,  he  quickly  made  himself 
felt  as  a  power  among  us,  and  gave  early  promise  of  the 
breadth  and  depth  of  attainments  which  subsequently 
made  him  eminent.  His  perceptions  were  quick  and 
clear,  his  grasp  of  new  thoughts  firm  ;  every  faculty  of 
his  mind  moved  with  the  velocity  of  the  electric  cur- 

*  From  Dr.  W.  H.  Allen,  President  of  Girard  College,  and  formerly 
Dr.  M'Clintock's  colleague  in  the  FacuUy  of  Dickinson  College. 
25 


386 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


rent.  He  was  remarkable  for  a  kind  of  intellectual  elan, 
and  charged  upon  the  subject  before  him  with  the  aban- 
don of  an  assaulting  column  in  battle.  Enthusiastic  in 
the  pursuit  of  knowledge,  he  acquired  it  with  prodigious 
rapidity,  and  his  tenacious  memory  let  nothing  escape. 
He  could  prepare  a  sermon,  write  a  review,  learn  a  lan- 
guage, or  master  the  details  of  a  scientific  treatise  in  less 
time  than  any  man  I  have  known.  I  remember  that 
when  pressed  for  copy,  he  wrote  an  article  for  the 
'  Methodist  Quarterly  Review '  in  a  single  day,  which 
filled  twenty-two  pages  of  that  periodical — and  this  in 
addition  to  his  regular  work  as  a  professor. 

But  his  intense  mental  activity  taxed  beyond  health- 
ful endurance  a  physical  constitution  naturally  robust. 
While  midnight  oil  may  lubricate  the  mind,  it  poisons 
the  body.  The  laws  of  our  vital  being  cannot  be  violated 
with  impunity.  In  the  earnestness  of  his  work,  our 
friend  exhausted  his  strength,  and  was  frequently  com- 
pelled to  remit  his  labors  to  recover  his  health. 

"  Physiologists  assert  that  the  maximum  ratio  of  brain 
to  muscle  in  the  animal  world  has  been  reached  in  man  ; 
and  that  any  marked  excess  in  that  ratio  is  abnormal, 
and  a  cause  of  early  death.  Thus  the  popular  belief  that 
precocious  children  die  young  is  confirmed  and  explained 
by  science.  But  M'Clintock  had  a  head  as  large  as 
Daniel  Webster's,  poised  on  a  body  half  its  size.  How 
so  small  a  frame  could  support  so  vast  a  dome  for  fifty- 
six  years,  is  a  problem  which  may  puzzle  physiology. 
Although  that  frame  was  hewn  from  the  toughest  tim- 
ber, squarely  jointed,  stoutly  braced,  compact  in  every 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  387 

mortice  and  tenon,  its  parts  needed  frequent  repairs  to 
prevent  the  superincumbent  weight  from  crushing  to 
ruin  the  whole  structure. 

"  Dr.  M'CHntock's  transition  from  the  chair  of  mathe- 
matics to  that  of  ancient  languages  was  so  easily  and 
gracefully  made  that  he  seemed  to  be  equally  at  home 
in  both  departments.  Though  he  was  not  a  man  to 
bury  himself  in  numbers,  quantities,  and  dimensions, 
fintil  he  ate,  drank,  wore,  talked,  and  dreamed  mathe- 
matics, and  breathed  no  atmosphere  but  equations, 
differentials,  and  integrals,  or  until  imagination,  senti- 
ment, and  sense  of  beauty  were  so  dead  and  dry  within 
him  that,  like  a  mathematician  we  read  of,  he  could  lay 
aside  Milton's  *  Paradise  Lost '  with  the  question,  *  What 
does  it  prove  ? '  yet  I  have  always  deemed  it  fortunate, 
both  for  himself  and  the  Church,  that  he  entered  the 
field  of  literature.  This  afforded  wider  scope  for  his 
talents,  and  accorded  better  with  his  tastes  and  aspira- 
tions. His  translation  of  Neander  and  his  connexion 
with  the  *  Methodist  Quarterly  Review '  gave  breadth 
and  depth  to  his  theological  studies,  made  him  familiar 
with  German  thought,  and  the  exhaustive  methods  of 
German  research,  and  added  to  his  rare  qualifications  for 
the  great  work  which  will  be  an  enduring  monument  of 
his  industry  and  learning. 

"  In  the  pulpit,  M'Clintock  was  sound  in  doctrine  as 
held  by  our  Church,  courteous  to  other  denominations, 
catholic  in  spirit,  convincing  in  argument,  rich  in  illus- 
tration, persuasive  in  eloquence.  Learned  without  a 
display  of  learning,  pleasing  without  effort  to  please,  he 


388  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

spake  from  a  full  mind  and  warm  heart  to  minds  and 
hearts  that  responded  in  sympathy  with  his  own. 

''On  the  platform,  ready,  bright,  strong,  the  right 
word  in  the  right  place,  he  fastened  the  attention  of  his 
audience  to  the  sentiments  he  wished  to  inculcate,  some- 
times by  an  apt  comparison,  sometimes  by  a  suggestive 
metaphor,  and  often  by  sallies  of  wit  and  humor,  which 
shot  forth  like  coruscations  of  the  aurora  borealis,  in 
ever-varying  hues  and  shapes,  and  threw  over  his  subject 
a  playful  and  shimmering  light. 

''  In  social  life,  frank,  genial,  simple-hearted  as  a  child, 
transparent  as  crystal,  with  no  assumption  of  dignity,  no 
consciousness  of  superiority,  alive  to  all  human  emotions 
and  sympathies,  his  conversation  now  shone  with  the 
rich,  soft  hues  of  the  opal,  now  flashed  with  the  brilliant 
light  of  the  diamond. 

His  sympathy  with  the  poor  and  defenceless  assumed 
the  form  of  a  broad  philanthropy.  There  is  a  kind  of 
philanthropy  which  overlooks  the  naked  and  hungry  at 
its  own  door,  but  sends  clothing  and  food  to  the  Feejees 
and  Hottentots  to  be  seen  of  men,  and  to  blazon  its 
name  in  the  newspapers.  But  M'Clintock's  great  heart 
had  room  for  the  near  as  well  as  the  remote.  Like  the 
wise  king  of  old,  he  *  considered  all  the  oppressions  that 
are  done  under  the  sun :  and  behold,  the  tears  of  the 
oppressed  ;  and  they  have  no  comforter.  And  on  the 
side  of  their  oppressors  there  was  power ;  but  they  had 
no  comforter.'  He  resolved  to  be  their  comforter.  He 
stopped  not  to  count  the  terrible  cost  of  word  or  deed  in 
behalf  of  an  unpopular  cause,  in  a  misled  though  honest 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  389 

community.  He  knew  that  legality  is  not  always  right ; 
and  that  in  every  conflict  between  human  law,  which 
may  be  wrong,  and  divine  law,  which  is  always  right,  the 
power  of  man  is  on  the  side  of  what  is  legal,  while  on  the 
side  of  right  is  the  power  of  God. 

Some  who  are  now  present  may  remember  the  day 
when  the  cry,  '  Down  with  M'Clintock ! '  rang  through 
the  college  campus,  and  young  men,  frantic  with  rage, 
were  ready  to  tear  him  in  pieces,  or  hang  him  to  the 
nearest  tree.  He  was  charged  with  instigating  a  riot  to 
rescue  a  fugitive  bondman  from  his  pursuing  master.  If 
the  charge  could  be  sustained,  he  would  be  held  respon- 
sible before  the  law  for  the  sad  consequence  of  that  riot 
— the  death  of  a  man. 

When  the  brave  Colonel  Shaw  fell,  with  many  of  his 
soldiers,  in  the  unsuccessful  assault  on  Fort  Wagner,  a 
flag  of  truce  was  sent  for  his  body.  The  commandant 
of  the  fort  replied,  '  We  have  buried  Shaw  with  his  nig- 
gers.' In  the  indictment  of  the  Carlisle  rioters  the  name 
of  John  M'Clintock  was  included  in  a  list  of  twenty-nine. 
It  was  a  feeble  attempt  to  bury  John  M'Clintock  with 
his  negroes.  But  as  the  fame  of  Shaw  has  outlived  the 
petty  insult,  so  has  the  fame  of  M'Clintock.  He  was 
acquitted.  The  sober  second  thought  of  the  students 
succeeded  their  passionate  excitement.  They  who  had 
shouted  '  Down  with  M'Clintock ! '  became  afterward  his 
personal  friends,  and  he  still  lived. 

"  The  services  which  M'Clintock  rendered  to  his  coun- 
try during  his  residence  in  Paris  demonstrated  his  ardent 
patriotism,  and  their  value  can  hardly  be  overrated.  In 


390  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

the  dark  days  of  our  calamity,  when  men's  hearts  began 
to  fail  them  for  fear,  he  breasted  the  tide  of  foreign 
prejudice,  and,  with  arguments  that  could  not  be  an- 
swered, sent  forth  through  all  channels  of  communication 
with  the  public  to  which  he  had  access  both  in  France 
and  England,  did  much  to  aid  the  accredited  agents  of 
our  Government  in  preventing  the  recognition  of  the 
Confederate  States  by  those  two  great  nations. 

"  The  Christian  public  of  all  denominations  has  been 
gratified  with  the  announcement  that  the  ensuing  vol- 
ume of  the  great  "  Cyclopedia,"  for  which,  in  connex- 
ion with  Dr.  Strong,  he  had  been  fifteen  years  collect- 
ing materials,  needs  only  a  revision  to  prepare  it  for 
the  press.  If  the  forthcoming  volumes  shall  fulfil  the 
promise  of  the  three  already  published,  the  work  will  be 
a  splendid  monument  of  Christian  learning  and  research, 
which  will  perpetuate  the  names  of  its  authors  and  add 
to  the  reputation  of  the  country.  And  when  Biblical 
and  theological  scholars  of  whatever  sect  or  creed  shall 
rise  from  the  study  of  its  pages,  they  will  say,  '  Servant 
of  God,  well  done  I '  " 

One  of  the  first  elements  of  his  power,  and  one  of 
the  principal  sources  of  his  successful  life,  was  his  ear- 
nest spirit.*  His  ardor  was  quenchless,  and  his  en- 
ergy exhaustless.  Whatever  he  undertook  he  accom- 
plished ;  he  could  not  fail.  In  his  youth  he  aspired  to  a 
collegiate  education.  Have  it  he  would,  and  have  it 
he  did.    And  when  he  received  his  parchment  he  did 

*  From  the  Funeral  Address  of  Bishop  Janes. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  391 

not  receive  it  as  a  bill  of  divorcement  from  books ;  it  was 
only  an  inspiration  in  the  pursuit  of  eminence  in  scholar- 
ship. While  a  professor  in  Dickinson  College  he  was 
more  of  a  student  than  any  undergraduate  in  the  insti- 
tution. It  was  the  burning  of  the  midnight  oil  that 
gave  him  his  greatness  and  position.  This  resolute  will, 
and  persevering  effort  for  Christ,  may  be  seen  in  all  the 
labors  of  his  life. 

Another  reason  of  his  success  was  found  in  the  sys- 
tematic manner  in  which  he  employed  his  time.  His  was 
not  a  hap-hazard  life.  His  had  a  time  for  devotion,  for 
general  reading,  for  study  and  writing,  for  social  life  and 
general  action — a  time  for  every  thing.  It  was  this  sys- 
tematic effort  that  enabled  him  to  turn  to  the  best  ac- 
count every  fragment  of  the  day,  and  to  win  such  a 
wide  reputation. 

Another  reason  of  success  was  the  simplicity  of  his 
plan,  the  oneness  of  his  purpose.  We  have  a  right  to 
state  that  he  had  an  eye  single  to  the  glory  of  God,  and 
that  he  sought  to  promote  that  glory  by  advancing  the 
interests  of  humanity.  His  eye  being  single,  his  purpose 
being  a  simple  one,  his  whole  life  was  one  of  candor, 
frankness,  and  openness.  He  was  just  as  ready  that  his 
opponents  should  know  what  he  intended  and  was  do- 
ing, as  that  his  friends  should  know.  He,  therefore, 
never  lost  the  confidence  of  any  one.  I  have  known 
him  from  childhood,  and  I  say,  before  this  congregation 
and  God,  that  I  never  knew  any  thing  of  him  that  was 
dishonorable.  He  was  as  careful  of  the  interests  of  an- 
other as  of  his  own,  and  he  was  jealous  of  all  that  per- 


392  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

tained  to  the  glory  of  God.  Because  he  was  thus  de- 
voted, and  his  motives  pure,  his  actions  were  ahvays 
understood,  and  nowhere  was  this  seen  to  greater  advan- 
tage than  in  the  sacred  desk.  He  sought  in  the  simplest 
and  plainest  of  language  to  present  the  doctrines  of  our 
holy  religion.  He  ascribed  originality  of  thought,  so 
far  as  divine  truth  is  concerned,  entirely  to  God.  As  a 
man,  as  a  Christian  man,  as  a  minister,  as  a  man  to 
whom  the  Church  had  committed  many  of  its  interests, 
we  remember  him  with  gratitude  and  with  love.  I  feel 
that  no  one  will  say  we  exaggerate  the  merits  of  our  de- 
ceased brother ;  but  every  one  will  retire  from  these 
services  to-day,  and  think  that  his  character  has  not 
been  fully  set  forth.  I  shall  offend  no  one  in  saying,  we 
have  in  the  Church  no  one  left  superior  to  him." 


"  My  personal  acquaintance  with  him^  commenced  on 
his  coming  from  Philadelphia  to  New  York  to  take  a 
position  in  the  Book  Concern,  then  in  charge  of  Messrs. 
Emory  and  Waugh.  My  own  position  was  that  of  chief 
clerk  in  the  Book  Department.  Young  M'Clintock  had 
that  of  book-keeper  and  general  assistant  to  Mr.  Waugh, 
who  up  to  that  time  had  kept  the  books  of  the  Concern 
as  the  associate  of  Dr.  Emory.  On  his  coming  from 
Philadelphia  his  appearance  was  very  youthful  ;  in  fact, 
he  was  but  a  boy,  and  he  would  have  blushed  to  be 
called  any  thing  more.  When  Mr.  Waugh  saw  him  he 
fairly  expressed  his  surprise  by  saying  he  had  supposed 

*  From  Mr.  Timothy  A.  Howe,  his  fellow-clerk  in  the  Methodist  Book 
Room. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK. 


393 


him  older.  John,  however,  took  the  position  assigned 
him,  and  soon  gave  satisfactory  evidence  of  his  abihty. 

He  was  very  winsome  in  his  manners  and  appear- 
ance. His  round  jacket  and  close-fitting  clothes  were  well 
adapted  to  show  off,  even  at  that  time,  a  splendid  figure. 
His  countenance,  fair  and  ruddy,  was  very  attractive, 
while  so  sensitive  was  he  that  the  slightest  personal  allu- 
sion to  him  would  mantle  his  cheeks  and  forehead  with 
crimson.  He  had  the  privilege  of  a  home  in  the  family 
of  the  late  Rev.  Samuel  Merwin.  The  influences  there 
thrown  around  him  were  well  suited  to  make  a  deep  im- 
pression on  a  mind  so  sensitive  as  his  ;  they  were,  in  fact, 
only  a  continuation  of  the  same  influences  under  which  he 
had  hitherto  lived  in  his  own  father's  house.  His  regard 
for  Mr.  Merwin  was  very  great.  He  loved  him  much,  and 
well  he  might,  for  Mr.  M.  was  a  wise  and  judicious  coun- 
sellor, and,  while  seeming  to  make  himself  an  only  equal 
of  the  young,  he  at  the  same  time  would  be  imparting 
the  most  useful  lessons  of  instruction.  And  religion,  as 
exemplified  in  Mr.  Merwin's  family,  was  ever  attractive. 

The  late  Rev.  Dr.  James  Floy  was  a  fellow-clerk  in 
the  Book  Concern,  and  in  memory  of  our  then  bachelor 
days  we  three,  afterward  for  many  years,  as  opportunity 
offered,  had  our  annual  dinner  at  some  appointed  place, 
at  which  none  others  were  allowed  to  be  present.  The 
following  notice  now  lies  before  me : — 

"  'Dear  Sir  :  The  annual  dinner  will  take  place,  if  you  have  no 
objections,  on  Wednesday,  and  the  company  will  meet  at  the  office  of 
 at  3  P.  M.    Yours  in  fraternity,  J.  FLOY, 

"•Monday,  September  12,  1850."'  J.  M'CLINTOCK.'" 


394  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

"  But  these  friends  of  my  youth  have  passed  away,  and 
I  am  left  alone  to  my  '  annual  dinner '  in  remembrance 
of  them."   

At  the  General  Conference  of  May,  1868,  in  Chica- 
go, we  lodged  at  the  same  hotel. Often  in  his  room,  I 
observed  that,  in  addition  to  his  Conference  labors,  which 
were  enough  for  two  ordinary  men,  he  spent  hours  of  each 
day  in  examining  proofs  of  his  great  work — '  The  Cyclo- 
paedia of  Biblical,  Theological,  and  Ecclesiastical  Litera- 
ture' — the  proofs  being  sent  daily  by  mail.  In  connec- 
tion with  the  Drew  Theological  Seminary,  it  has  been 
my  privilege,  as  a  trustee,  to  observe  the  same  remarkable 
industry  and  fertility  of  resource.  As  the  trustees  have 
met  from  period  to  period,  it  was  not  needful  to  bring 
to  our  meetings  any  resolutions  or  suggestions,  for  Dr. 
M'Clintock,  as  President  of  the  Seminary,  was  always 
ready  with  every  point  carefully  arranged  for  our  discus- 
sion and  adoption. 

The  last  display  of  his  energy  and  capacity  was  seen  in 
the  formation  of  the  Board  of  Education,  where,  as  on 
other  occasions,  he  appeared  the  master  spirit.  Out  of 
twelve  trustees  appointed  by  the  late  General  Confer- 
ence, nine  were  present  in  New  York  in  December,  1869, 
among  whom  were  found  some  of  our  ablest  ministers 
and  laymen.  In  a  day  spent  in  discussions  which  were 
to  consolidate  the  whole  movement  and  send  it  forth  or- 
ganized for  its  work,  M'Clintock  shone  conspicuously  in 
amplitude  of  suggestion,  in  scope  of  comprehension,  in 

*  From  Mr.  C.  C.  North,  of  New  York  city. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  395 

vigorous  application,  and  broad  sympathy  for  the  chief 
object  of  the  movement — the  education  of  young  men 
for  the  ministry.  This  was  probably  the  last  business- 
meeting  he  attended  in  the  interest  of  the  Church.  In 
preparing  documents  for  publication,  it  devolved 'upon 
the  writer  to  visit  Dr.  IM'Clintock  at  Madison  on  Wed- 
nesday evening,  February  i6.  He  had  been  suffering 
with  a  disorder  of  his  throat,  and  had  for  a  week  been 
speechless.  That  evening  he  recovered  his  voice,  and 
was  enabled  to  greet  me  with  his  accustomed  urbanity. 
We  spent  two  hours  after  tea  in  revising  the  '  proofs  '  of 
the  documents  we  were  to  send  forth  to  the  Conferences, 
and  with  his  usual  facility  he  crossed  a  sentence  here  and 
altered  a  word  there,  until  the  whole  matter  was  fin- 
ished, when  he  said  :  '  Now,  let  us  visit  the  ladies.' 

"  And  now  for  an  hour  he  was  full  of  vivacity,  and 
entertained  us  with  remarks  on  furniture  and  household 
matters,  on  expenses  in  Paris,  and  on  his  literary  labors. 
Among  other  things  he  said  :  *  I  have  come  to  believe 
that  I  am  a  modest  man.'  'Why?'  I  said.  'Because,' 
he  replied,  '  so  many  persons  have  issued  books  on  the 
life  and  character  of  St.  Paul,  while  for  years  I  have  had  a 
pile  of  manuscript  on  the  same  theme  which  I  have  not 
ventured  to  give  to  the  public'  Alluding  to  his  losses  of 
property  during  the  period  of  his  residence  in  Madison, 
which  to  most  minds  would  be  serious  and  depressing, 
he  said :  *  These  things  have  not  cost  me  the  loss  of  a 
moment's  sleep,  nor  on  account  of  them  have  I  experi- 
enced even  the  pain  of  anxiety.'  A  few  days  after  this 
conversation  I  heard  of  his  illness — not  then  thought  to 


39^  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

be  fatal — a  few  more,  and  word  came  that  there  was  Ht- 
tle  hope  ;  on  Friday,  March  4,  all  doubt  was  removed — 
the  noble  man  had  fallen  !  " 


"  Dk.  M'Clintock's  death  to  me  is  one  of  those  events 
that  mark  a  stage  in  one's  relations  and  memory."^  It 
alters,  more  than  one  could  believe,  in  a  case  where  per- 
sonal intercourse  was  so  slight,  one's  mode  of  thinking  as 
to  men  and  affairs  in  your  country,  in  the  world  of  letters, 
and  in  American  Methodist  activities.  From  the  first  time 
I  met  him  in  London,  in,  I  think,  the  year  1850,  he  drew 
me  toward  him  with  a  joint  force  of  heart  and  brain 
rarely  met  with.  During  my  visit  to  America  this  force 
had  added  to  it  that  of  most  winning,  personal  kindness, 
and  noble  services  to  the  cause  of  Methodism  in  Ireland, 
which  I  was  happy  to  see  espoused  by  one  whose  help 
was  powerful. 

"  Had  I  never  seen  him  again,  I  should  have  till  death 
held  him  in  memory  among  rare  men,  as  I  do  several 
others  whose  acquaintance  I  then  made.  But  subse- 
quent visits  of  his  to  Europe,  and  especially  his  residence 
in  Paris,  put  it  in  my  power  to  see  more  of  him  than  of 
any  other  of  my  American  friends. 

From  him  I  had,  during  a  visit  to  Washington,  gained 
much  light  on  many  of  the  more  obscure  aspects  of  the 
problem  of  slavery,  especially  in  its  relation  to  the  Free 
States  and  the  central  Government,  bearing  on  points  clear 
enough  to  Americans,  but  scarcely  understood  by  one  in 
a  million  in  Europe,  and  yet  necessary  to  an  intelligent 

*  From  a  letter  of  the  Rev.  William  Arthur,  London,  England. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLIXTOCK.  39/ 

view  of  the  conflict  which  was  then  shaking  the  Congress 
in  anticipation  of  the  time  when  it  would  shake  the  bat- 
tle-field. This  was  one  of  the  things  which  most  helped 
me  early  to  see  through  misrepresentations  which  were 
spread  here  on  all  hands  by  Americans  accredited  with 
the  highest  positions  and  name,  and,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  generally  received.  The  ardor  with  which  he 
entered  into  the  cause  of  his  country  in  the  day  of  the 
great  struggle,  while  he  was  so  far  from  home,  was  only 
part  of  his  nature  and  habit,  but  certainly  if  ever  man 
burned  and  toiled  to  serve  a  great  cause  he  did. 

"  I  feel  as  if  I  hardly  saw  him  in  London  last  summer, 
for  at  the  time  I  was  ill,  and  scarcely  able  to  talk  or 
enjoy  society.  One  could  not  feel  much  surprised  at  his 
death,  for  he  always  struck  one  as  a  man  not  merely  deli- 
cate, but  liable  to  menacing  illness.  Still,  he  sprang  up 
again  so  quickly,  and  returned  to  work  with  so  much  vigor, 
that  one  almost  felt  as  if  the  physical  resources  of  his  con- 
stitution shared  in  the  abundance  of  his  mental  ones.  I 
valued  his  "  Cyclopaedia"  before,  but  now  it  has  a  touching 
claim  upon  the  heart  in  addition  to  all  its  claims  upon  the 
mind.  I  often  envied  his  stores  of  learning,  and  seldom 
parted  from  him  without '  more  keenly  than  of  wont '  feel- 
ing a  regret  which  through  life  has  been  habitual  with 
me,  and  often  made  me  shrink  to  a  distance  from  men 
whom  I  desired  to  know,  namely,  that  the  incessant 
activity  which  has  been  called  for  by  my  allotted  share 
of  public  service  had  left  me  destitute  of  much  furniture 
which  else  I  should  have  stored  up  and  greatly  prized. 
Many  will,  through  the  '  Cyclopaedia,'  be  assisted  in 


398  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

gathering  up  some  part  of  his  stores,  and  will  also  through 
it  inherit  some  fruit  of  his  power." 

"  I  shall  never  forget  the  first  impression  made  on  me 
by  Professor  M'Clintock.^  It  was  the  summer  of  1836 
when  he  arrived  at  Dickinson  College  to  take  the  chair 
of  mathematics.  I  had  just  entered  my  Sophomore  year, 
and  was  not  sixteen  years  of  age.  Professor  M'Clintock 
was  not  seven  years  older  than  myself,  and  he  had  come 
to  teach  our  class  and  the  three  older  classes  what  we 
regarded  as  the  most  difficult  portions  of  the  curriculum. 
He  was  a  small,  well-built,  lithe,  wiry,  florid  young  man, 
with  a  disproportionately  large  head,  which  seemed  sur- 
charged with  brains.  His  eyes  had  a  flattened  appear- 
ance, as  if  they  were  inadequate  to  let  out  the  fire  of  his 
mind,  doing  that  work  very  partially  because  they  were 
preoccupied  with  inward  speculation.  They  appeared  to 
have  work  of  their  own,  and  were  not  quick  at  carrying 
errands  from  his  mind  to  the  mind  of  the  beholder.  So 
to  me  it  seemed  that  his  intellectual  brightness  illumined 
other  features  more  than  his  eyes.  The  play  of  his  lips 
was  particularly  interesting;  his  mouth  was  expressive 
in  many  senses. 

"  As  an  instructor,  the  largeness  of  his  gifts  and  the 
wealth  of  his  acquirements  were  against  him.  His  intel- 
lect was  so  rapid  that  it  could  not  sufficiently  sympathize 
with  the  tardy  movements  of  slower  minds.  To  mem- 
bers of  the  classes  whose  mental  operations  resembled 

*  From  the  Rev.  Dr.  C.  F.  Deems,  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers, 
New  York,  and  an  alumnus  of  Dickinson  College. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  399 

his  own  he  was  a  delightful  leader;  and  even  in  the  eyes 
of  those  who  were  less  able  to  follow  him,  and  to  whom, 
therefore,  he  could  not  be  so  useful,  he  was  nevertheless 
splendid. 

"  Sometimes  a  man's  friends  misjudge  his  work.  Per- 
haps as  a  general  thing  the  toilers  of  the  brain  do  their 
best  in  the  sum  total  of  their  efforts.  But  it  always 
seemed  to  me  as  if  the  intellect  and  learning  of  Dr. 
M'Clintock  might  have  made  some  contribution  to  liter- 
ature which  should  have  had  some  more  direct  and  pow- 
erful influence  on  the  progress  of  human  thought  than 
Cyclopaedias,  translations,  sketches  of  Methodist  minis- 
ters, the  analysis  of  Watson's  Institutes,  and  Greek  and 
Latin  school  books.  Useful  as  all  these  are,  they  seem 
to  belong  to  intellectual  drudgery. 

"In  i860,  when  about  to  return  to  America,  I  found 
him  established  in  Paris  in  charge  of  the  American 
Chapel,  and  working  on  the  Cyclopaedia.  In  his  study  I 
looked  over  the  sheets  of  the  article  on  the  title  '  GOD,' 
which  showed  more  labor  and  painstaking  than  it  ex- 
hibits as  printed  in  the  Cyclopaedia.  I  ventured  to  make 
the  suggestion  stated  above.  His  reply  in  substance  was 
that  he  did  not  have  my  estimate  of  his  capabilities  of 
becoming  by  any  culture  a  very  effective  preacher ;  that 
he  felt  his  calling  to  be  literature,  which  he  wished  to 
follow  in  the  way  best  calculated  to  establish  the  Re- 
deemer's kingdom  ;  that  he  had  taken  up  from  time  to 
time  what  seemed  to  him  most  needed  to  be  done, 
which  he  could  do  probably  as  well  as  any  other,  and 
which  no  other  seemed  inclined  to  undertake. 


400  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

"  After  all,  a  man  does  more  by  his  character  than  by 
his  actions.  What  a  man  does  by  tongue  and  pen  may 
be  partly  computed  by  close  and  intelligent  observers; 
but  what  the  impulses,  imparted  by  his  life  to  those  in 
near  and  remote  connection  with  him,  continue  to  pro- 
duce, can  be  known  only  to  God.  A  lightning  stroke 
leaves  a  mark  in  the  riven  tree,  but  who  can  trace  in  the 
flower  and  fruits  of  garden  and  orchard,  and  in  the 
health  and  beauty  of  men  and  women,  the  influence  of 
the  gentle  yet  powerful  electric  agent  which  pervades 
the  earth,  hiding,  yet  working  every-where  ?  So  the  life 
and  character  of  our  revered  preceptor — Dr.  M'Clintock — 
stimulated  thousands  of  young  men,  of  whom  hundreds 
have  given  a  healthy  stimulus  to  many  others  who  will 
keep  his  memory  bright  and  sweet  and  fragrant  for  the 
coming  generation  of  scholarly  Christians." 


During  the  period  that  I  knew  Dr.  M'Clintock  most 
intimately,*  dark  clouds,  which  seemed  to  be  charged 
with  a  great  public  calamity,  were  hanging  over  us,  and 
absorbed  our  attention  and  thoughts  so  completely,  that 
incidents  and  traits  of  character  which,  under  other  cir- 
cumstances, might  have  proved  '  a  joy  forever,'  left  a 
comparatively  transient  impression.  Our  correspond- 
ence, never  very  considerable,  is  at  present  inaccessible 
to  me.  During  his  residence  in  Paris  he  was  a  frequent 
correspondent  of  the  late  Governor  Seward,  and  in  that 
correspondence,  which  I  am  sure  will  be  most  cheerfully 

*  From  the  Hon.  John  Bigelow,  Secretary  of  State,  New  York,  late  Amer- 
can  Minister  to  France. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  401 

placed  at  }-our  disposal,  you  are  likely  to  find  many  pre- 
cious memorials  of  his  earnest  and  noble  nature. 

My  personal  acquaintance  with  the  doctor  commenced 
in  Paris,  soon  after  the  first  and  most  humiliating  battle 
of  our  late  civil  war.  He  had  gone  there  to  avail  him- 
self of  the  libraries,  and  other  rare  facilities  of  that  great 
metropolis,  in  the  preparation  of  the  '  Cyclopaedia  of 
Biblical,  Theological,  and  Ecclesiastical  Literature,'  with 
which  he  proposed  to  enrich  the  literature  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  He  had  consented  to  add  to  his  literary 
labors  the  pastorate  of  the  American  Chapel  in  Paris, 
and  that  became  the  social  centre  of  a  very  considerable 
proportion  of  his  country  people  at  the  time  sojourning 
in  that  city.  As  a  parish  clergyman  he  was  greatly  es- 
teemed. Though  called  to  a  society  in  which  there 
were  very  few  strictly  of  his  own  communion,  he  made 
himself  eminently  acceptable  to  all  the  church-going 
portion  of  his  countrymen.  His  house  was  always  one 
of  their  favorite  resorts,  and  his  cheerful  and  fruitful  con- 
versation one  of  its  chief  attractions.  He  was  besides  as 
hospitable  as  a  bishop. 

"  There  was  no  American  in  Europe  more  absorbed  in 
the  fortunes  of  his  country,  then  engaged  in  a  deadly 
struggle  with  the  enemies  of  its  own  household,  nor 
more  ready  to  spend  and  be  spent  in  her  defence.  With 
pastoral  and  literary  employments  more  than  sufficient 
for  his  strength,  he  was  constantly  occupied,  through  the 
press  and  by  personal  intercourse,  in  enlightening  Eu- 
ropeans in  regard  to  the  causes  of  our  civil  war,  and  the 

magnitude  of  the  interests  at  stake  upon  the  result  of  it ; 
26 


402  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

in  correcting  the  delusions  sedulously  and  successfully 
propagated  by  our  enemies  ;  in  strengthening  the  faith 
of  such  patriotic  Americans  as  were  desponding,  and 
in  developing  unwonted  zeal  and  energy  in  those  who 
were  not.  He  never  dishonored  himself.  By  personal 
intercourse,  also,  he  exerted  a  very  seasonable  influ- 
ence upon  a  very  influential  section  of  French  society, 
and  was  one  of  the  quiet,  but  by  no  means  unim- 
portant, agencies  under  Providence  for  organizing  the 
strong  popular  hostility  in  France  to  the  Imperial 
policies  in  America.  When  he  returned  to  the  United 
States  his  loss  to  the  Church,  as  well  as  to  the  gen- 
eral society  of  Americans  in  Paris,  was  universally  de- 
plored. He  was  a  representative  American  of  whom 
all  were  proud,  whom  every  one  knew  personally,  and 
whom  all  regarded  as  their  friend  and,  in  need,  their 
trusty  counsellor. 

Dr.  M'Clintock  possessed  a  vigorous  and  command- 
ing nature,  which  was  commended  to  the  world  by  sin- 
gularly genial  and  captivating  manners.  He  was  learned 
far  beyond  the  average  of  his  profession,  and  his  mind 
had  been  equipped,  and  his  character  strengthened,  by  a 
large  and  instructive  intercourse  with  the  world.  As  a 
pulpit  orator  he  was  always  edifying,  and  not  infrequent- 
ly eloquent ;  and  his  crowning  virtue,  the  religion  that  he 
taught  and  practiced,  was  a  religion  that  united  and  har- 
monized, not  a  religion  that  separated  and  antagonized, 
his  fellow-creatures.  He  was  '  liberal '  in  his  theology, 
for  the  dews  of  his  charity  fell  upon  the  just  and  the 
unjust ;  but  he  held  no  opinions  about  which  he  was  in- 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  403 

different,  or  about  which  he  allowed  others  to  think  him 

indifferent."  

My  earliest  recollections  of  my  dear  and  honored 
friend  are  of  his  occasional  visits  to  my  parents,  and  of 
the  pleasure  derived  from  them  by  my  mother  especially, 
whose  wit  and  gayety  of  spirits  were  invariably  kindled  by 
the  exuberant  vitality  and  vivacity  of  her  guest.*  As  a 
child,  I  was  won  to  him  because  he  retained  all  the  fresh- 
ness of  childhood  ;  while  I  could  but  be  impressed  at  the 
same  time  with  his  manly  acquirements,  and  pre-emi- 
nently with  his  affable  and  charming  manners  as  a  gen- 
tleman. With  what  wondering  awe  did  I  note  his  intel- 
ligence, that  was  interested,  apparently,  in  every  thing ! 
To  me  he  seemed  actually  to  take  cognizance  of  every 
thing,  so  that  in  after  years  I  was  not  in  the  least  sur- 
prised to  hear  a  distinguished  German  scholar  say : 
*  Ah  !  your  Dr.  M'Clintock  was  a  genuine  scholar.  Act- 
ually he  knew  some  things  that  I  didn't  know ! ' — this 
with  the  air  of  one  who  makes  an  assertion,  hardly  cred- 
ible. Neither  when  my  husband  submitted  to  his  exam- 
ination a  small  compilation  of  hymns  and  tunes  for 
social  meetings,  something  of  a  novelty  in  our  Church  at 
that  time,  was  it  surprising  to  me,  who  knew  his  versa- 
tility and  working  capacity,  that  he  found  leisure  amid 
pastoral  and  literary  labors  to  hear  the  tunes,  and  to 
make  many  fine  suggestions,  some  of  them  requiring 
research  on  his  part  both  for  hymns  and  tunes.  No 
burdens  seemed  to  oppress  his  capacious  mind,  no  tasks 
were  too  diverse  for  his  multifarious  activity. 

*  From  Mrs.  Marj'  S.  Roliinson,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  A.  Stevens. 


404 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


"In  the  spring  of  1863  we  found  ourselves  in  Paris, 
lodged  in  an  obscure  apartment  in  the  Latin  quarter. 
One  morning  I  heard  a  cheery  voice  peaHng  through 
the  dark  Httle  entry :  '  Why  don't  you  let  your  friends 
know  youVe  come  hither?  What's  the  use  of  being 
so  awfully  exclusive?'  etc.,  and  the  doctor's  rosy,  genial 
face  shone  into  the  dull  room  from  the  door-way.  He 
allured  us  to  his  dinner-table  the  same  day,  and  I  clear- 
ly recall  his  discriminating  conversation  on  French  archi- 
tecture and  other  arts,  and  on  French  life  and  manners. 
His  admiration  was  warm  for  the  brilliant  people  among 
whom  he  was  living — a  people  whose  finer  traits  are  in 
accord  with  those  of  his  own  Irish  temperament. 

Here,  as  every-where,  he  was  conscientiously  sys- 
tematic in  the  employment  of  his  hours,  devoting  a  cer- 
tain number  daily  to  study,  to  exercise,  and  to  society 
— becoming  thus,  by  turns,  preacher,  pastor,  litterateur, 
statesman,  and  man  of  the  world.  This  rigid  adher- 
ence to  system  in  every  thing  is  the  only  possible 
explanation  of  the  variety  of  detail  and  the  aggregate 
amount  of  his  labors.  His  sermon  on  Sunday,  at  the 
American  Chapel,  was  elegant  and  effective,  as  were 
all  his  pulpit  efforts.  Yet  on  such  occasions  I  could 
but  think  he  was  less  powerful  as  a  preacher  than 
he  might  have  been  had  his  united  energies  been  di- 
rected to  this  single  end.  All  that  he  did  was  well  done, 
confessedly.  Yet  in  the  two  or  three  professions  he  fol- 
lowed, any  one  of  which  is  vast  enough  to  absorb  the 
widest  culture  and  the  utmost  of  native  ability,  the 
efforts  of  his  genius  were  undoubtedly  hampered  by  its 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLIXTOCK.  405 

own  versatility — as  it  was,  however,  his  pastoral  office 
was  dear  to  him.  He  once  referred  in  conversation  to 
some  overtures  that  had  been  made  toward  his  appoint- 
ment as  ambassador  to  the  French  Court.    ^  I  told  

he  said,  '  I  would  rather  be  a  minister  of  the  Gospel, 
than  minister  to  any  empire  under  heaven.' 

In  Paris,  as  elsewhere,  he  was  harassed  by  infirmities 
of  health.  Several  times,  during  the  sermon  I  have  al- 
luded to,  his  face  flushed,  and  he  was  forced  to  pause  a 
moment,  being  almost  overcome  by  a  rush  of  blood  to 
the  head.  The  injury  to  his  knee-joint  also  oppressed 
him  painfully.  Yet  these  seemed  scarcely  to  impede  the 
ordinary  activities  of  his  life.  He  adhered  to  his  routine, 
and  accomplished  more  than  most  persons  do  in  good 
health. 

When,  a  year  or  two  later,  I  entered  the  parsonage 
of  St.  Paul's,  New  York,  he  greeted  me  with  his  custom- 
ary salutation,  taking  both  my  hands  in  his  with  cordial 
pressure,  and  asserting  with  rapid  emphasis  his  pleasure 
at  seeing  me.  How  many  can  recall  that  salutation, 
quick,  emprcsse,  yet  most  natural  —  the  two-toned  ca- 
dence of  a  sympathetic  voice,  whereby  the  sociability 
and  sweetness  of  the  speaker's  heart  made  itself  heard. 
As  by  an  electric  chain,  the  person  greeted  was  instantly 
put  cn  rapport  with  the  greeter.  This  first  moment 
gave  one  the  right  to  claim  him  as  one's  intimate  friend. 

At  ]\Iadison,  where  I  visited  him  occasionally,  his 
versatility  and  energy  were  brought  into  full  requisition. 
Every  detail  pertaining  to  the  seminary,  from  securing 
its  potatoes,  and  examining  in  the  rudiments  the  youth 


406  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

who  composed  its  earlier  classes,  up  to  recondite  lect- 
ures and  elaborate  Cyclopaedia  work — all  received  his 
personal  attention.  What  a  head  was  needed  for  this 
amassing  of  labors,  what  wise  distribution  of  time  and 
force,  no  one  can  conceive  who  did  not  hear  from  his 
own  lips  something  of  his  method.  He  reminded  one 
of  those  great  generals  who  allow  no  detail  of  fort,  field, 
or  camp  life  to  escape  their  vigilance. 

"  In  the  afternoon  of  the  day  of  one  visit  we  drove 
over  the  beautiful  uplands  whose  horizons  are  vailed  by 
the  tinted  mists  of  the  Kittatinny  Range.  Precious  in- 
struction fell  continually  from  his  lips,  while  ever  and 
anon  he  leaned  forward  in  quick  gesture  to  kiss  his  little 
daughter,  sitting  opposite.  I  thought  his  nervous  energy 
found  relief  in  this  affectionate  way,  precisely  as  that  of 
a  boy  expends  itself  in  sudden  shiftings  and  ever-recurring 
motion.  This  was  the  last  time  I  saw  him  in  life.  Never 
had  I  been  more  deeply  impressed  with  the  harmony  of 
his  nature,  the  beautiful  equilibrium  of  his  brain  and  his 
heart,  and  with  the  extraordinary  development  of  both ! 
Among  the  hundreds  gathered  about  his  bier,  I  am  sure  not 
a  few  mourned,  as  I  did,  the  loss  of  an  intimate  friend. 
'  He  knew  how  to  sympathize,'  said  one  of  his  Church 
members  to  me  in  that  sad  hour ;  '  when  the  tidings  came 
of  my  son's  death  in  the  East  Indies,  he  was  the  first  of 
all  my  friends  who  came  to  comfort  me.'  Genius,  in  the 
ordinary  acceptation  of  the  word,  he  had  in  generous 
measure.  But  the  flower  and  crown  of  all  his  gifts,  that 
which  cast  resplendence  on  all  these,  was  his  genius  for 
loving  and  for  winning  love  ! " 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLIXTOCK.  407 

No  American  visiting  Paris  since  Dr.  M'Clintock's 
pastoral  charge  of  the  American  Chapel,"  and  coming 
within  the  circle  of  American  families  represented  by  the 
congregation,  has  had  to  wait  long  for  grateful  testimony 
to  his  unfailing  spiritual  care  of  a  flock  standing  in  pe- 
culiar need  of  it.  It  was  because  he  comprehended  the 
dangers  attending  the  path  of  Americans,  and  particularly 
the  young,  in  a  foreign  land,  and  knew  well  how  to  place 
on  their  guard  those  who  came  confidingly  within  reach 
of  his  counsel,  that  his  memory  is  now  cherished  by  the 
members  of  the  American  Chapel  at  Paris  with  no  less 
attachment  than  by  the  larger  parish  in  New  York,  from 
which  he  had  come  and  to  which  he  returned. 

"  His  official  visit  to  the  British  Wesleyan  Conference 
in  1857  ^^'^s  the  beginning  of  an  honored  relation  that 
increased  in  attachment  during  his  subsequent  residence 
in  Paris,  while  his  sympathy  with  Irish  Methodism,  as 
exhibited  by  his  attendance  at  the  Conference,  and  his 
labors  at  home  in  behalf  of  the  Irish  Fund  during  our 
centenary  year,  repeatedly  found  public  recognition  ;  and 
it  was  but  natural  that  when  the  new  Wesleyan  College 
in  Belfast,  under  the  presidency  of  the  Rev.  William  Ar- 
thur, was  to  be  dedicated.  Dr.  IM'Clintock  should  be  in- 
vited (though  unable  10  accept)  to  come  from  America 
and  take  a  leading  part  in  the  exercises. 

"  He  did  not  live  to  see  acknowledged  in  Europe  the 
full  merit  of  the  '  Cyclopaedia '  on  which  he  had  labored 
with  the  unwearied  enthusiasm  of  the  real  scholar — that 

*  From  a  Letter  to  "The  Methodist"  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hurst,  President 
of  Drew  Theological  Seminary. 


4o8 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 


could  not  have  been  expected  before  completion  of  the 
work — but  he  was  not  without  testimony  from  the  seats 
of  German  learning  that  the  magnitude  and  success  of 
the  undertaking  was  appreciated,  as  much  so  as  could  be 
expected  while  the  great  task  was  yet  unfinished. 

There  are  many  young  Americans  now  attending  the 
German  univ^ersities  who  received  from  him  their  first 
impulse  toward  these  fountains  of  foreign  thought,  and 
some  have  already  given  expression  to  their  keen  sorrow 
at  his  loss.  But  the  great  lesson  of  his  life  for  the  young, 
here  and  at  home,  will  not  be  thrown  away — the  joy  of 
work,  the  intensity  of  Christian  life.  Whatever  his  labors 
were — and  he  knew  how  to  labor  in  more  ways  than  are 
often  given  to  men — the  chief  object  of  life  with  him 
when  overtaken  by  death  was  what  it  had  been  years 
before,  when  he  wrote :  '  We  shall  all  have  work  enough 
to  do  in  preparing  the  ministry  of  the  next  generation. 
God  help  us  to  do  it  well ! '  " 


"  When  I  have  thought  of  the  possibilities  that  were 
in  him,  I  have  found  myself  wishing  that  he  were  not  so 
various,  so  many-sided,  so  occupied  with  multifarious  in- 
terests.* I  have  mentally  asked,  Would  not  the  product 
of  his  life  be  greater  if  he  were  to  concentrate  himself? 
But  truth  is,  his  heart  was  as  big  as  his  brain — loving, 
tender,  with  sympathies  running  out  in  every  direction, 
and  carrying  his  mental  energy  after  them.  Whatever 
interested  human  kind  interested  him.    To  this  breadth 

*  From  an  article  by  the  author  of  this  memoir,  printed  in  the  "  Meth- 
odist"  March  12.  1870. 


THE  REV.  DR.  M'CLINTOCK.  409 

of  his  sympathies  he  owed  the  social  power  which  spread 
such  a  charm  over  his  hfe. 

But  what  shall  I  say  of  his  simple,  earnest  piety, 
which  rested  with  childlike  confidence  on  the  fatherly 
care  of  God  ;  of  his  nice  sense  of  right,  which  stood 
guard  over  all  the  inner  springs  of  action  ;  of  his  abound- 
ing charity,  which  would  see  only  the  better  side  of 
men  ?  He  abhorred  cant  in  religion  and  in  every  thing 
else,  and  would  have  none  of  it.  Whenever  he  spoke  of 
his  Christian  life,  it  was  always  in  the  fewest  and  plainest 
words.  And  so,  coming  to  and  seeing  the  end,  he  an- 
nounced his  readiness  with  the  utmost  composure. 

Had  Dr.  M'Clintock  been  asked  the  secret  of  his 
success  in  life,  he  would  have  promptly  answered,  '  Work.' 
One  of  his  first  college  addresses  was  a  panegyric  upon 
labor.  He  believed  in  hard,  earnest,  downright  toil, 
and  relied  solely  upon  it.  He  had  great  talents — talents 
such  as  are  rarely  given  to  men,  but  never  deluded  him- 
self with  the  expectation  that  they  could  be  made  effect- 
ive without  untiring  exertion.  He  built  himself  up 
laboriously — built  wisely  on  solid  foundations,  and  kept 
on  building  till  the  fabric  stood  before  the  eyes  of  men 
conspicuous  for  splendor  and  beauty. 

"  His  mind  was  not  so  much  creative  as  judicial. 
He  was  essentially  a  critic.  To  investigate,  and  to  sum 
up  the  results  of  investigation  in  a  clear,  condensed 
statement,  was  a  habit  which  had  become  to  him  second 
nature.  In  these  mental  processes  he  was  aided  by  the 
rapidity  with  which  he  would  track  the  information  of 
which  he  was  in  search.    No  matter  in  what  or  how 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS,  Etc. 


many  volumes  hidden,  it  could  not  escape  him.  That 
his  mind  tended  to  encyclopedia  came  necessarily  from 
the  largeness  and  variety  of  his  acquisitions.  In  theol- 
ogy especially,  nothing  less  than  the  survey  of  the  whole 
circle,  and  that  from  the  centre,  would  satisfy  him. 

''And  so  he  appeared  before  us  a  complete,  well- 
rounded  man,  certainly  the  foremost  scholar  of  American 
Methodism  ;  in  eloquence,  the  peer  of  the  most  eloquent ; 
in  gentleness,  love,  and  goodness,  well-nigh  incompara- 
ble. He  owed  much  to  nature,  for  '  the  elements  were 
kindly  mixed  up  in  him  ;  '  much  to  culture,  to  which  he 
faithfully  dedicated  himself ;  but  most  of  all  to  the  grace 
of  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  which  wrought  mightily  in 
him.  The  highest  eulogium  we  can  pronounce  upon 
him  is  that  he  was  a  good  man.  Better  this  than  all 
learning,  than  all  eloquence ;  for  '  whether  there  be 
tongues,  they  shall  cease ;  whether  there  be  knowledge, 
it  shall  vanish  away ;  but  love  abideth  forever.'  Having 
in  life  been  Christ's,  he  is  Christ's  now  by  a  closer  tie, 
and  so  dwelleth  with  him  eternally." 


THE  END. 


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